It’s a really, really nice word. We all talk about it. We want it. We miss it when we don’t have it. We don’t know whether we can do without it. Having it seems normal. Losing it is weird, and even hurts at times.
It’s universal – found in every language, culture, time period, and region of our world. It has many facets. It describes a deity. It’s an emotion, a way of life, and the most important thing one could ever have. What’s that really, really nice word? Well, LOVE, of course, and I think everyone should experience it.
Here are three good reasons why you should allow yourself to love and be loved.
- Connecting with God
God is love. To love is to know God and to have a connection with him. His love is the foundation of every relationship and the reason we can love others. The Bible teaches that our ability to love comes first from experiencing God’s love. This love is not just a feeling but a commitment – a sacrificial, self-less love, divine love that was manifested in Christ. Our Saviour demonstrated this great love on the cross when he gave his life for us. As we connect with him and receive this love, it fills us and overflows into our lives, allowing us to love others in ways, we couldn’t do on our own.
- Connecting with Others
This may seem trivial, but love has been the key to the functioning of society for the last 5000+ years. The ability to make loving, intimate connections with another person; the importance of touch, and to have that fondness returned is dynamite, literally. From the warmth of neighbourly relationships to the kindness of strangers, love manifests itself in diverse forms, shaping our well-being and contributing to our overall life satisfaction.
Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or prefer to skip it, research shows that love can have real, measurable effects on your mental and physical well-being. Its many benefits include increased life expectancy, lower blood pressure, reduced cardiovascular disease risk, decreased anxiety, and stress. Love and strong social connections have also been shown to reduce feelings of loneliness and depression while increasing happiness and a sense of belonging. The upswing in positive thoughts is also noticeable and that itself makes a big difference. Who doesn’t want all of this? I know I do.
The bottom line is if you truly want to lead a healthier life and enjoy all the mental, emotional, and physical benefits that healthy relationships provide, it’s important to nurture connections that make you feel secure and supported—whether they are romantic or not. So, go ahead and make those connections. You need them.
- Connecting with Yourself
Love isn’t just about romance. It’s about remembering to be kind to yourself. From personal experience, I can tell you that it’s incredibly hard to find love without loving yourself, and even harder to keep it. Loving yourself means that there is self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, that you are patient with yourself, especially when you make mistakes. Loving yourself means being less needy and less demanding in a relationship, leading to healthier relationships which blossom into even greater love. So, love yourself. Embrace the red and pink hearts, the love poems, the cards, and of course, the (dark) chocolate. It will open your heart’s door and be a magnet to even greater love – all around.
Finally, know why love is important. Love God. Love others. Love yourself. Your life will be much richer, I promise.
