How well do you love others? This may not be the easiest question to answer off the top of your head, but it's definitely an important one to start considering. For me, this question is an easy way to check my heart because how I love others usually reflects how I'm loving myself. Have I been short tempered with my family lately, or not leaning in enough with my friends? (If I'm being honest, the answer is yes more than I'd like to admit).

However, I'm not talking about the people closest to us today, I'm talking about loving the people we usually avoid. Now that's a way to check your heart.

Let's start by defining who the people are that you avoid. This will be different for everyone, but there are a few things to consider before you finalize your definition. They may not be people you actively work to avoid, but that you naturally don't gravitate towards - people you wouldn't usually think are "like you". They could be people living differently than you, as in maybe they decided to forego the traditional college route or they live in a different part of town. They may look different from you, they may act differently than you, they may not even like you. These are all people you may be avoiding without realizing it, and then I'm sure there are the few that you know you try to steer away from.

I have to follow that definition with a note that there are people out there who aren't your people, who you should give some space to and try not to smother with this love I keep talking about. But for the most part, I'm encouraging you to look for the people on the outskirts of your life and lean into them.

It is not in our nature to go out of our way and love people we don't have anything in common with. People we probably don't know that well, and who probably haven't shown that much of an interest in us. It's unknown territory and it's scary.

I'm challenging you to conquer that fear and look for the beauty in people, even if they seem a little rough around the edges. Rather than putting up walls and building barriers, let yourself be the person that comes out around your family and friends, the ones whom you love effortlessly. If you were to look at the way you love these people, you'd probably give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done and move on.

Starting today, take that assessment as a given, that you'll always love those people well, and start asking yourself how you are loving those that prove to be a bit more difficult. Be brutally honest with yourself when you answer, and make adjustments accordingly.

I am currently reading a book called Everybody, Always by Bob Goff, and in the first few pages he says we should, "love the people near us and love the ones we've kept far away." To do that means living without fear: without fear of rejection, without fear of others' opinions, and without fear of heartache. He challenges his readers to decide on loving someone that you disagree with (someone you have probably avoided thus far).

His exact words are, "Give away extravagant love to them,", and this really resonated with me, because love is something every single one of us can give away without inhibitions. I know I can't afford to give extravagantly with other things in my life, although I'd like to, but I can give away love like I'll never run out of it, and so can you. Because guess what? We will never run out of it.

Accept this challenge of loving the ones you usually avoid. Set those fears aside (way aside, don't ever pick them back up), and get to loving!