What Is Love?
Love is a universal emotion and experience, yet how do you define it? We feel it, profoundly. Explain it? That’s a different story! I’d like to collect your thoughts about love so I hope you’ll chime in and give it a go. I’ll share your thoughts in a blog post in the future.
We’ll talk more about defining love in a moment, but first I’d like to tell you a little about what’s coming in the near future.
Riding The Wave of Love
Soon I’ll be offering a gift for signing up to receive my blog by e-mail. I’m excited because I believe it will be tremendously beneficial to you. It will be about how to generate more love in your life. I don’t know about you, but I believe it’s one of the most important aspects of life.
Without love, life really wouldn’t have much value. But, fortunately for us, love permeates the world we live in. It’s simply a matter of tapping into and riding the wave of love. If you’re not experiencing as much love as you’d like, you can.
I’m not into quick fixes, yet implementing my simple suggestions will bring you results – and quickly. It has for me and I’m confident it can for you. I can’t wait to continue the journey together.
Healing “The Split”
Future posts will also include my discovery of “the split” and how to heal it. I discovered “the split” as a result of a date that led me to realize that by mid-life (or before) many people have lost their belief in love and life and yet they still long for love. This places you in a terrible bind: wanting love but not believing in it. We’ll explore how to heal this split and restore your belief in love and life. A worthy endeavor, don’t you think?
What Is Love?
Love is mysterious and when I attempted to define it I found myself making my way to Wikipedia. Here is what it says:
Love is any of a number of emotions related to a sense of strong affection[1] and attachment. The word love can refer to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes, ranging from generic pleasure (“I loved that meal”) to intense interpersonal attraction (“I love my wife”). This diversity of uses and meanings, combined with the complexity of the feelings involved, makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, even compared to other emotional states.
They continue:
As an abstract concept, love usually refers to a deep, ineffable feeling of tenderly caring for another person. Even this limited conception of love, however, encompasses a wealth of different feelings, from the passionate desire and intimacy of romantic love to the nonsexual emotional closeness of familial and platonic love[2] to the profound oneness or devotion of religious love.[3] Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts.
Your Thoughts On Love
- What are your thoughts on love?
- How do you know you’re in love?
- Do you believe in love at first sight?
- What can you do to experience more love in your life?
I look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, be well, and may you experience the most loving relationships ever.
Lauren
Photo Courtesy of: Kelsey_lovefusion
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Lauren,
Something you said that I had to point out…”wanting love but not believing in it”.
I think a lot of people are in this situation maybe after having a series of relationships that haven’t worked out.
I believe in the power of attraction, and therefore if you don’t believe in love, it’s difficult to attract it.
Staying positive about love and freely giving love I think are keys to receiving love.
Drica Lima
Drica Lima´s last blog ..Are You Insecure With Yourself And In Your Relationships?
Dear Drica,
I hear you and am on the same wave length. Our beliefs largely determine what we experience. When we’ve had challenging relationship experiences sometimes we need guidance about how to open ourselves to love again.
Nice to hear from you and thanks for your comments.
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
This is a big one, Lauren. A hard one to pin down, like what is Art. I think the elusive nature of an easy definition is what makes the word so powerful. I love to think of love in the biggest universal sense; the idea of oneness and that we are all connected. I think the biggest one to remember is that love is something we must give if we intend to receive it. We can do this in many ways with sincere appreciation and gratitude.
For my money, nobody said as simply and beautifully as John Lennon: “All you need is love.”
Ah, Rob, a man after my own heart quoting Lennon. I love the relationship he and Yoko had.
Your point is the core of what I believe is the “key” to receiving love – giving love. So simple and yet so powerful.
It certainly does help to KNOW that we are all connected in the universal sense, as you point out.
And I’m amazed at how a simple definition of love eludes us. Yet, love is so important to our lives. That’s why I’m interested to hear my readers’ perspectives about love and what it is.
Thanks for adding to the discussion.
Warm regards,
Lauren
P.S. Did I mention how much I enjoyed the last few minutes of game 7 – Lakers/Celtics?
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
Not so enjoyable for us… wait’ll next year
rob white´s last blog ..Make the growth choice
Ha ha – always the optimist – I love it! Yes next year shall be fun!
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
Hi Julie,
Love is the natural consequence of living. I believe that we have one natural emotion and that is love, all other experiences are simply a side effect. At our core, we have love and the only true feelings connected to this emotion are joy and sorrow. Although we experience various levels of joy and sorrow, they are still connected to the underlying one-emotion and two true feelings.
Regards,
Sandra
Sandra Hendricks´s last blog ..Mistakes or Happy Little Accidents?
Hi Sandra,
Interesting perspective and thanks for sharing your comment. Can you say more about what you believe love is?
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
Love is just a word that faintly describes various aspects of life. Mankind has tried to put into human terms what love is since time began. We can experience some things and even understand some things, without clearly defining them. I think that love is one of those phenomenal aspects that cannot be accurately described. When you cradle a baby in your arms, that is love. If you have compassion for the heartache of another person, that is love. I suppose Emmet Fox said it unsurpassed in his book “Power Through Constructive Thinking.”
Love is enthusiasm and passion for living and for the universe in which we live.
Sandra Hendricks´s last blog ..Discovering Your Purpose – What Does it Mean?
Thank you Sandra for your lovely thoughts about love. Yes, it seems there are many aspects to love and I find it is challenging to define love, yet we seem to know it when we experience it.
Emmet Fox said it well. Now, romantic love, that’s another cookie!
Warm regards,
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
Sorry Lauren I forgot who I was talking too, please forgive me, for inserting the incorrect name!
Sandra Hendricks´s last blog ..What Motivates You to Take Action?
No problem Sandra. I’ve done it myself!
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
Wow, big question Lauren. When I ponder love I go right to the Lover Archetype. Love of not just people, but places, things, ideas. A call to believe again. Moving toward aliveness. And a sense that love almost captures us, carries us along, driving the car, so to speak. Of course, there’s that word passion too. But I’ve learned that alienates some people. Once a client said to me, “It’s more about fascination than passion.” I liked that a lot. Love definitely has an element of fascination to it. And like all things, it has a dark side too: jealously, envy, drama.
p.s. I wonder if Joseph Campbell would have said love was about bliss?
Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Meaning Mondays: The Four Healing Salves
Hi Lauren, I would like to share with you my favorite quote on what is love: Love is like a violin. The music may stop now and then, but the strings remain forever. To experience more love in one’s life, it’s important is to get to know yourself well enough that he can appreciate who he is–even when he doesn’t like how he feels. In doing so, he can then begin to share a part of himself to others.
Dawn @ Marriage Intimacy´s last blog ..Focus on the Little Things to Improve Marriage Intimacy in a Big Way
Dear Patty,
And I’m fascinated by your response Patty – and want to hear so much more from you about it! Say more if you will about love being about places, things, and ideas as well as people.
A great point that we are captured by love at moments and that it drives the car. It indicates a lack of control which can be rather scary, yet exhilarating.
Personally I love passion. Fascination is….well, a fascinating thought. Tell me more!
Yes, “like all things, it has a dark side too”…an essential aspect to life and one I’m afraid lots of people would like to deny the existence of. As Pia Mellody says: “Hug your demons or they’ll bite you in the ass”.
I love that you, Patty, are willing to dive in and acknowledge all the aspects of our beingness rather than pretending only goodness and fluffy feelings exist or are real.
Finally, I’ll bet lots that Joseph Campbell would have said the love was about bliss! And he would look blissful as he said it.
It’s a joy to hear from you and catch a glimpse of your perspective Patty.
Warm regards,
Lauren
Dear Dawn,
A lovely quote and analogy to describe love. Thanks for sharing it.
Your thoughts about knowing ourselves, including when we don’t like an aspect of how we’re being is powerful. We need to embrace our less than perfect selves in order to share ourselves. How remarkable. And challenging.
Perhaps that’s an element of love. When we can be less than our perfect selves and our lover/partner/friends love us anyway. How healing is that. And they also encourage us to be our best selves – lovingly. Very timely for me to hear.
Hope all is well and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
Dear Lauren,
Just questioning whether there is actually a dark side of love, or if possibly LOVE is the one phenomenon without that duality.
As complicated as love is, I find it simple in its purity and its separateness from all that it is not.
It is only light.
My definition would be, “the spark of divinity that resides within us all and flows outward in its pure form as soon as we accept it for ourselves.”
I think in our human-ness we don’t always have the grace to “do” love properly.
Things like jealousy creep in due to our lack of love for ourselves.
So I supposeI’m in denial of the aspect of love that causes pain… I do question whether we can lay the blame on love, or if something far from love is masquerading in its clothes and gets it in trouble.
When I think about what love is…I also think about it being the magic ingredient that distinguishes casual sex from the transcendent spiritual experience of sex. I guess that’s where my head is
Thanks for welcoming all ideas Lauren, these are just my instincts on love. Love to you, Lisa
Dear Lisa Marie,
What an awesome definition you give love! And, again you wisely include “…as soon as we accept it for ourselves” for it seems that love has a difficult time reaching us if we can’t match the energy that is love.
And in our humanness we lack the grace at times to remain in the “light” of love, as you aptly describe.
You address a powerful aspect of love and sexuality. The transcendent experience of sex does indeed seem to be surrounded with love. It is quite a different experience from casual sex.
Well, Lisa, very wonderful thoughts on love. Thank you so much for your deep and profound observations.
Love,
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
If my free gift is a new husband, I’ll pass. I can’t even get my own life under control…
I’ve been missing my counseling sessions here. I haven’t written a new blog post in a week. There’s a lot I cannot share on the internet. I know, you say what?? I’ve already shared so much here.
No need to bore anyone with my weekly depressing experiences. I’m still interviewing for jobs and really need one. Unemployment was cut off for me and a million others because the bill has died in the Senate. Been without $ for 22 days now and counting. It could take another month before the Senate does something, if anything.
To save money I had my phone, internet and cable disconnected. I have to count and pinch every penny now. Thanks for listening. Sorry for not writing about love!
One last thought about love. I won’t go searching for it when I know I’m not open to it or in a place to receive it. It’s hard to love ones self while being unemployed for 6 months and job hunting. (Hence why I don’t blog about unemployment. Too depressing.)
Hugs & Sloppy kisses from Ohio!
Scott
Scott Barron´s last blog ..Sally’s Top Ten Secret Sauce Blogs
Dear Scott,
First Scott, hugs and kisses back at ya and how did you know I was about to wrap a gorgeous man up all for you and send him to you through Cyberspace.
Well, my friend, it sounds quite challenging at the moment and I hope for you a speedy remedy to your woes. Being unemployed is so difficult. You are an example of the “real person” behind what’s happening right now and funding being cut off. I can see why you’re not feeling up to writing.
I am so happy that you visited and my thoughts will be with you and I will be sending lots of love your way. Hope you find something soon. Write us and tell us a little about what you do for work.
Love you,
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
Lauren,
LOVE. What is it, anyway.
Okay – I’ve been here letting this one soak into my soul today. Perhaps it’s something very personal. As in – I have to honor it…feel it…be it (“it” being LOVE). It’s something that connects to a deeper part of us. And it’s mulit-dimensional.
LOVE is action. It’s in “doing” with our heart. Really feeling connected in that which we touch. LOVE is also “being”. It’s a state of going inward…(self-LOVE perhaps) – seeing the uniqueness that is us…and living that. LOVE is also feeling. Feeling more deeply the needs of others (compassion).
LOVE is beautiful. (however we might each see “beautiful” in our world).
Lauren, this is a wonderfully interesting topic. And one that I feel very connected with as I type this.
Much love to you…
Lance
Lance´s last blog ..Hills of Africa – A Journey Into You
Dear Lance,
What beautiful thoughts and feelings on love, Lance.
And you’re a great one to write about love because your blog is all about love. You bring us such delicious tales of love it makes my mouth water.
Thanks for your contribution to love on the planet.
Love in bushels back to you,
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
Oh, Lauren, where do I begin?!
If I’m answering the question instinctively my response goes something like:
Without love, what else is there? What else matters?
Without love, there is only emptiness.
Love sees light where darkness reigns.
Right now, I have John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” playing in my head. And I wonder if there is anything more supreme than love? I see love as the umbrella of all good things such as kindness, compassion, sympathy, charity, inclusiveness, acceptance, etc.
But alas, I’d be remiss not to mention that we don’t always know what to do about love. And maybe because it’s bigger than us. It’s more than a romance between two people. It’s more than affection for friends. It’s more than parental love. It’s all-encompassing and we aren’t always quite sure how truly powerful it is. (Maybe we’ve barely scratched the surface of its powers.) And perhaps, it really is unconditional and it is us humans and all our limitations that compel us to continue to put conditions upon it.
Thanks for a thought-provoking post.
Belinda Munoz + The Halfway Point´s last blog ..ALL CLEAR: FeedMedic Alert for thehalfwaypoint
Dear Belinda,
I always get excited when I see your name because I know you’ll bring something downright juicy to the table. And once again, you don’t disappoint.
What beautiful words about love. Poignant and rich.
And now John Coltrane A Love Supreme, A Love Supreme, is playing through my head as I ponder further the great mystery that is love. I go back to your first statements of love: “Without love, what else is there? What else matters?” Love is everything that makes life worth living!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful insights about love, the topic that has filled our music, art, history, film, literature, more than any other single thing.
Love,
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
hello lauren
how are you?
i think love involves actions and feelings
my views on love revolves around making sacrifices, empathy, trust, legitimate compromises, sharing, understanding, being forthright…
it also involves self awareness and acceptance.
Love is beautiful and i’m not too sure it can be defined in the whole sense of the word.
Take care of yourself and enjoy the rest of the day
ayo´s last blog ..The Life Skills Challenge (Win A …….)
Dear Ayo
I love your description of how you approach love and
embody your intention for loving. And that you include self-acceptance which in essence is loving yourself.
Thanks for your wonderful thoughts on love. Hope you’re basking in lots of love at this very moment!
Warm regards,
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
Hi Lauren,
I’ve been contemplating this post and all of the excellent comments. I think love is one of the more abused words in the English language in that people seem to use it so easily these days. I feel like “I love you” is tossed out so quickly in both romantic and platonic relationships, seemingly without a thought to what it really means and it seems it’s just as easily walked away from.
That said, I do still believe in romantic love even though I have not been successful at it. Once upon a time I believed there was one true love in our lives but as I have gotten older I have come to believe that there are for most of us, different loves for the different stages or times of our lives.
How to define it? Maybe that too changes with time. Respect, acceptance of another just as they are flaws and all, joy, sunshine on a cloudy day…..
A side note to Scott, I’ve been unemployed for over a year now so I know exactly how you feel. I’m still collecting UI but I’m not sure how much longer. Jobs in my field are starting to pop up again so I’m feeling a bit more hopeful. Good luck.
Deb
Deb´s last blog ..little girl…..
Dear Deb,
I love your point about different loves for different stages of our lives. I feel it’s true. At least it has been for me.
You’ve got me humming…with the sunshine on a cloudy day…”My Girl”… smile.
I’ve given a great deal of thought to what we define as success in romantic relationship. I feel if we learn through a relationship and it is time to move on to a new phase, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s been a failure. It means it ran its course.
“Forever” isn’t always functional and successful. If we can remain open to love and life – now, that’s success in my book.
Best wishes finding a job!
Warm regards,
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..What Is Love?
Hi Lauren,
As usual, your posts force me to think deeply about my self and my life. I thank you for that!
I’ve been thinking about this question you pose at the top of this post: What is Love?
What is the real meaning of LOVE?
We generally associate love with a feeling. As long as I have good feelings about someone or some thing I can say I love it. In other words, love is associated with only positive feelings.
The dictionary defines love as: 1) strong affection; 2) warm attachment; 3) attraction based on sexual feelings; 4) a score of zero in tennis.
The Greeks used several different words to describe love:
Eros (Greek)
Erotic (English) sexual attraction, desire, craving
Storge (Greek) affection between and toward family
Philos (Greek) brotherly, reciprocal love
Agape (Greek) noun; a love of behavior and choice, not a love of feeling
Agapao (Greek) verb; a more unconditional love rooted in behavior toward others without regard to their due
I tend to think of love as a verb. As my children were growing up I tried to teach them that love is not how we feel about others. Love is how we behave toward others.
What do you think?
Keep up the great though provoking writing!
Len
Dear Len,
Thanks for all the great info. and reflections on love. I found the definition of Agape particularly interesting. “A love of behavior and choice…”
Zero in tennis is funny!
I love what you taught your children.. Words are easy, action requires effort.
Thanks for visiting and for your great reflections about love.
Warm regards,
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..Best Relationships Ever Mentoring