What Is Love?
Love is a complex mix of emotions, behaviors and beliefs that bind us to others. We use this word to describe our feelings for family members, partners, pets and even ideals and principles that we hold dear. The topic of love has captivated philosophers, writers and poets for generations and it is widely believed that love is a universal feeling with different expressions. However, there are many differing definitions of love and even the same person may have very different interpretations.
Some people believe that love is a physiological drive, like hunger or thirst. This view of love is based on the theory that when we see someone we find attractive our hearts race, palms sweat and our cheeks become flushed, a reaction caused by a jumble of chemicals in the brain, including dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine. Eventually, if the person is seen again and again, these chemical levels are gradually replaced by those of the cuddle hormone oxytocin, which leads to feelings of attachment and closeness.
Other people believe that love is a state of being, that it is a feeling that involves empathy and attachment. When we feel in love, we want to be there for our loved ones, help them through difficult times and make their lives easier. It can be a beautiful feeling that can last for a long time, but it is important to remember that we also need to take care of ourselves and make sure our needs are being met too.
It is also possible to love multiple people at the same time. Typically, this is more of an infatuation than true love, but it can happen. Some people may fall in and out of love with the same person, depending on life changes or misunderstandings, but with communication and effort it is possible to rekindle love with a partner.
In the Hindu philosophy, there are several forms of love: kama (lust), karuna (compassion and mercy) and bhakti (devotion to God). Bhakti can be a spiritual experience that promotes selflessness or it can be simply a form of narcissism.
In writing, the best way to show your readers what you mean by love is to let them experience it for themselves. Rather than telling them how your characters feel, let them demonstrate it through their actions and interactions. This will bring your audience into the story and keep them engaged. For example, showing that your characters are flawed and imperfect but still loving each other unconditionally is a great way to portray the depth of the emotion. It is also helpful to give readers a variety of expressions that they can relate to, so they can imagine their own feelings and experiences. This will make them more connected to the characters and make your story more believable. A good place to start is to think about your own first loves and how they influenced your ideas about love. You can then expand your ideas to include other experiences and relationships that you have had in the past.