I think we are co creators of our universal reality that incorporates us all. We can shape our section of reality from how we choose to perceive the outside world. I believe that if we can develop the sense of unconditional love within ourselves, then we can attract that love into our lives from outside sources.
By tracing our steps back to the creator and by seeking a path that leads us to loving our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. We can also seek to remove all the barriers within ourselves that prevent us from feeling unconditional love for ourselves or for others.
Although many of our hormonal and emotional reactions are based off of our genetics and our upbringing, we can alter our epigenome, or the regulation system that turns gene expression on and off, through our choices and our intent towards outside stimuli. We can choose what knowledge we accumulate, our environment, and to some extent to overcome our default reactions to outside stimuli.
One can first look within to find who he or she truly is, and then align his or her heart and mind to communicate gratitude and intent, which should be framed in a way to better serve others rather than oneself.
IE, “please bless this food so that it will give me strength to serve my fellow man”