Practice Love – Expressing Attraction and Love
“Love is a balm for the soul.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr. Love has many forms, qualities and depths. It is something that can be demonstrated by the special people in your life such as family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. The beauty of love is that you are never too young or too old to show or receive it. Love is the best medicine for the soul; it eases the pain and confusion of existence.
We all have different types of love, but basically, love is a state of harmony, security, safety and well-being, which inspires courage and confidence in different types of people. When I talk with people, they may say, “I’m in love with my mother.” But if we dig a little deeper, we will realize that the expression “I love my mother” does not mean the same thing for everyone. In fact, the different types of love include: romantic love, attachment love, friendship love, common love, religious devotion, parental love, friendly love, sexual attraction, financial love and bonding love.
A great example of the different types of love is found in physical intimacy. Physical intimacy is a wonderful way to express love. One partner can give a peck on the cheek, whisper a loving message or hold hands in a romantic way. Physical love languages can be very powerful, but it’s important to realize that not everyone speaks in the same love language.
Emotions also play an important role in expressing love. A good analogy of how emotions can be expressed through words is with love. To be loved is to want to be loved. Love is expressed by the positive emotions such as happiness, pride, hope, passion, honesty, respect, concern, admiration, etc., as well as the negative emotions such as hurt, fear, jealousy, resentment, self-pity and blame.
The positive emotions are very important in creating loving relationships, but they must be accompanied by the proper balancing of the negative emotions as well. For example, anger, hostility, resentment, self-doubt and other negative emotions can be destructive to one’s well-being. Conversely, the positive emotions such as joy, satisfaction, happiness, peace, confidence, healthy self-confidence, acceptance and other qualities such as assertiveness, empathy, and self-discipline can promote a healthier, happier and more fulfilling life. These emotions are usually what we are looking for in a romantic relationship, and in any healthy relationship, for that matter.
Another way that you can practice love is by using compliments to express your affection for someone else. If you are engaged in a romantic relationship with a special someone and give them a compliment, such as “You are such a great partner!” you are practicing romantic love. However, if you use this same compliment when giving a criticism of something the other person did, you are being unkind and sending the wrong message.