Happiness in Love
Love is an intense emotion that engulfs us with an unquenchable desire to be in someone’s presence. It inspires and encourages us to try new things in our lives, it motivates us to create more, aim higher and strive for better. This love can be found in a romantic partner, friend or family member, it may even be felt for a pet. It’s no surprise that this seemingly simple term is a mystery to many, because it takes on different forms depending on each individual experience.
It’s easy to get caught up in what others are doing or saying about love, but that shouldn’t be the main way we determine if what we’re feeling is authentic or not. Regardless of the type of love you’re experiencing, the key to happiness is being true to yourself and your own needs. This is why it’s important to find a balance between momentary pleasure and working toward long-term goals.
Ultimately, the best way to determine what you’re really looking for is to write out a list of the qualities that are most important to you in a relationship. These can include physical attributes, beliefs and values, lifestyle, views on money, personality traits, spirituality and more. Then, when you’re ready to look for your soulmate, take the time to be thoughtful and consider what this person might bring to your life.
There are three types of love that psychologists have identified: lust, attraction and attachment. Lust is the immediate desire for another person accompanied by physiological arousal, like shortness of breath and a fast heart rate. Attraction is the longer-term desire for another person accompanied by feelings of affection and closeness, but not necessarily physiological arousal. Attachment is the commitment to care for someone, including sacrifice and selflessness. This can be seen in the love a parent feels for their child or the devotion of someone who works to help an addict recover from destructive behaviors.
Happiness In Love
Regardless of the type of love you’re in, happy people are authentic and unapologetic about their feelings. They are comfortable with themselves and their own unique traits, and they share this authenticity with the people in their lives. They are also committed to their goals and dreams, and they do what it takes to achieve them.
This happiness includes a sense of purpose and meaning, a balance between pursuing pleasure and striving for goals, and the ability to handle failure and setbacks. It also involves the ability to see the big picture and not get caught up in the details. In other words, being genuinely happy is about living with mindfulness and understanding the bigger context of your relationships and life goals. If you can’t find your own happiness, it’s okay to borrow a little bit of the happiness of those around you. Just make sure you give it back to them later!