11-01-2012, 02:51 PM
I think we all take journeys in our lives to learn about love:
Love as survival: we develop bonds/attachments with our caregivers (e.g., parents) to ensure that we survive... physical needs are met, we are soothed when distressed
Love as meeting emotional needs: our bonds with another validates who we are - we feel secure and needed.
Love as authority/power: our relationship with authority gives us direction and purpose that may not be aligned with our hearts. Relationships like love of god helps us to learn about ethics (follow rules)... or we could reject it.
Love as self-actualizing force: our relationship with ourselves allows us to determine our own course in life, our purpose. Self-knowledge.
Love as balance: our relationship with our own self and other self is congruent, balanced... Acceptance.
Love as compassion: we are able to understand how others feel and think, and be able to understand our own feelings and thoughts... there is acceptance. Forgiveness is possible.
Love as expression: we are able to take our learnings and serve others without needing something in return. Service to others, or maybe, to self if compassion is not accepted.
Love as universal/mystical: being in unity with the love of the one infinite creator
Love as survival: we develop bonds/attachments with our caregivers (e.g., parents) to ensure that we survive... physical needs are met, we are soothed when distressed
Love as meeting emotional needs: our bonds with another validates who we are - we feel secure and needed.
Love as authority/power: our relationship with authority gives us direction and purpose that may not be aligned with our hearts. Relationships like love of god helps us to learn about ethics (follow rules)... or we could reject it.
Love as self-actualizing force: our relationship with ourselves allows us to determine our own course in life, our purpose. Self-knowledge.
Love as balance: our relationship with our own self and other self is congruent, balanced... Acceptance.
Love as compassion: we are able to understand how others feel and think, and be able to understand our own feelings and thoughts... there is acceptance. Forgiveness is possible.
Love as expression: we are able to take our learnings and serve others without needing something in return. Service to others, or maybe, to self if compassion is not accepted.
Love as universal/mystical: being in unity with the love of the one infinite creator
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