Love is a feeling that can be hard to define. It can be dreamy, sweet and sexy, or it can be a muddy pit of self-pity that feels like you will never climb out of the abyss that is your broken heart. Love is also a powerful force that can cause us to do things we wouldn’t normally do. We may find ourselves doing chores, taking on risky or uncomfortable tasks or giving up things that are important to us just because we want to spend more time with someone. In short, love can make us crazy!
Throughout history, philosophers, writers, artists and scientists have been attempting to explain and understand the phenomenon of love. Many people believe that there is a biological basis for love and that it is a natural human emotion, much like hunger or thirst. However, others have a more psychological view of love, believing that it is a complex emotional experience that can be influenced by hormones and neurotransmitters such as oxytocin and pheromones.
In general, most people believe that the key to a healthy relationship is mutual admiration. However, this is only one aspect of a healthy relationship and is often not enough on its own to keep a partnership together. Some psychologists and sociologists believe that a genuine appreciation of the other person’s talents, skills, personality and quirks is the most important element of a loving relationship.
When two people are in love, they are often unable to think of anything else but that person and how wonderful it is to be with them. This is partly because of a chemical reaction in the brain that causes a rush of dopamine when you are around your crush or best friend, creating feelings of excitement, attraction and joy.
The feeling of yearning for your partner also plays a role in love. This is a common phenomenon in long-term relationships and can be triggered by physical proximity, spending time together or thinking about them. It is a result of the brain’s ventral tegmental area releasing dopamine to focus on and crave the person you are in love with.
Some people have a mixture of these three primary love styles, referred to as mania, pragma and agape by Lee. Manic love can include intense emotions and worries about commitment, pragma is a combination of caring and practical concerns and agape is a type of self-sacrificing love.
A healthy love requires a lot of work and sacrifice. It is not easy to maintain a strong connection with another person when you have so many other things going on in your life, such as a career, family, friends and hobbies. However, if you can manage to put aside your own concerns and focus on the person you love, you will be able to make the relationship thrive. If you are able to build trust, and show your love for the other person through actions such as hanging out, listening and being present, the bond will be strong enough to withstand even life’s storms.
