More Than a Feeling: Love as the Fuel for Growth + Connection

Love as the Reason for Everything: Why the Fourth Cornerstone Changes the Game

What if love isn't something you find, but something you build?

In this episode, George and Liz pull back the curtain on love as the final cornerstone of the superhuman framework. Not the Hollywood version. Not roses and happily-ever-afters. The real, messy, transformative kind that powers your personal growth and connects purpose, passion, and persistence into something that actually works.

The Moment Everything Shifted

For George, love as a guiding principle wasn't always conscious. It grew through what he calls "life dominoes," moments of clarity that stacked over time until one conversation changed everything.

It happened on a mission trip to the Crow Indian Reservation. A woman named prophetess Juanita looked at him and asked a question that hit like a freight train: "When are you gonna realize you're the blessing?"

That question cracked something open. George had been chasing validation and success externally, searching for worth in accomplishments instead of grounding it in something deeper. From that moment, love shifted from a feeling to a foundation.

"Love for myself meant forgiving past mistakes. And trust me, there are plenty of them to forgive. Love for others means building authentic, purposeful relationships. Love for the journey meant embracing setbacks as opportunities to become better, not bitter."

What Love Actually Means in the Superhuman Framework

When George talks about love in this context, he's talking about agape love. Selfless. Unconditional. Action-oriented.

This isn't about fireworks or butterflies. It's the kind of love that says, I see you for who you are, not just what you do. It's how you show up for yourself and the world around you.

Here's what makes agape love different:

It's empathy-driven. It starts with understanding, both of others and yourself. Listening to the inner voice. Offering yourself grace.

It's action-oriented. Love isn't a warm fuzzy feeling. It's what you do. Choosing kindness over judgment. Taking uncomfortable steps to care for yourself in ways that actually matter.

It's inclusive. It doesn't stop with the people closest to you. It reaches everyone, including the humans who challenge you most.

How Love Amplifies Everything Else

Think of love as the soil where passion, purpose, and persistence grow.

Purpose is rooted in love. Most meaningful goals come from empathy, from wanting to connect or contribute to something bigger than yourself. When you approach your purpose with love, it deepens your commitment. You're no longer just chasing a goal. You're honoring what truly matters.

Passion starts with love. Love creates a space where you can be your true self without fear or judgment. When you're truly yourself, it's easier to find what lights you up. Love also protects you from burnout by reminding you to care for yourself and set boundaries.

Persistence transforms through love. Without love, persistence feels like a grind. With it, you gain resilience. Self-compassion to rise after a fall. The perspective to see failures as growth. You're not persisting alone. You're leaning on a community that gives and receives support.

As Liz put it bluntly: "If I don't love something, I'm not persistent. I'm just sad and angry."

The Hardest Love: Learning to Love Yourself

George doesn't sugarcoat this one.

"For the longest time, I didn't even realize self-love was something I had to intentionally cultivate. I had this belief that love for others, family, work, purpose, should always come first."

But here's the lesson that changed everything: You can't truly give what you don't already possess.

There was a time George had almost zero love for himself. He didn't like who he was or where he was going. Self-love began as a realization that he was worthy. Not because of what he accomplished, but for who he is. Imperfections and all.

This shift empowers everything else:

• It amplifies passion by freeing you from fear of judgment or failure
• It grounds purpose because you see yourself as capable of meaningful contribution
• It fuels persistence because your worth isn't tied to outcomes

"Self-love is a practice. It's a choice we need to make daily. It's treating ourselves with the same kindness, patience, and respect we'd give a dear friend, or in many cases, a perfect stranger."

The Small Act That Rewired a Moment

Sometimes love shows up in the tiniest corrections.

George's wife came home from a trip with a wooden board for cheese, something that reminded him of his childhood. His immediate reaction? Point out that the glass topper wouldn't fit right because there was no ring around it.

He walked away. Then he stopped. Rewound.

He walked back, looked at her, and said: "Hey. I'd like to rewind that moment." Then he simply said thank you and kissed her.

She had been thinking about him. She did something for him. And his knee-jerk response missed it entirely.

"Love isn't about grand gestures. It's about consistently showing up with compassion, with integrity, with the willingness to connect. And also seeing when you're doing the exact opposite of what you should be doing."

One Tiny First Step: Begin With Gratitude

If love feels out of reach, start here.

Take five minutes each day. Write down three things you're grateful for. That's it.

They can be simple. A kind gesture from a friend. A moment of quiet. The fact that you woke up and you're still trying.

George modeled it on the spot:

1. This podcast, because it gives him the ability to do something that matters
2. His wife, because she allows him to live his dreams and build his businesses
3. His office and equipment, because it enables him to do things he might not otherwise be able to do

"Gratitude shifts your focus from what's missing to what's actually present in your life. And when you're focused on what's present, that's what creates the foundation where love can grow."

Quotable Moments

"When you lead with love, you're not just walking a path. You're building one where passion, purpose, and persistence have the ability to flourish."

"You can't truly give what you don't already possess. If I don't have love for myself, how am I really giving you love?"

"Love flourishes in imperfection. True connection comes when you let go of needing to have it all figured out."

Your One Thing

George's takeaway: Love is not just a feeling. It's a practice. A series of small, intentional actions that connect you to yourself, to others, and to your purpose. Start by showing gratitude, embracing imperfection, and choosing connection over fear.

Liz's takeaway: You're not missing love. It's all around you if you choose to see it. But you have to choose. And sometimes that choice is going to hurt because it requires you to look at yourself wholly and say, I still love you, and I'm going to start acting from a place of love today.

Reflection Questions

1. What barriers am I carrying that block love for myself or others?
2. What's one small way I can show love today?
3. Am I showing up authentically, or am I chasing perfection?

Ready to dig deeper? Press play above and let George and Liz walk you through the full conversation. This one's worth your time.