Love is much more than just a feeling that comes to us naturally.

So.

Much.

More.

What is love? Many, many people have tried to describe it throughout time in poetry, songs, letters, and actions. Love is our desire to reach out and have our heart touch another’s.

We want to feel it, give it, and live in it.

There is no way to fully capture what it means to embrace love in my short blog, but here are some of my most important thoughts about embracing love as a habit.

what does it mean to embrace love?

There are many kinds of love including brotherly love, parental love, self-love, obsessive love, playful love, enduring love, love for mankind, and erotic love. As you can imagine, embracing each of type of love is different.

Embracing love begins by giving to another. This requires you to be vulnerable. Loving another is only possible when you are free to give it and should never be done out of compulsion.

· Love is a verb.

· Love is a choice.

· Love is a decision.

I believe love, in some form, is the solution to ALL our problems. It is what will ultimately save humanity from destruction.

Importantly, loving ourselves is a prerequisite to loving others. We must live with this dichotomy even though many try to take a shortcut and love others without loving ourselves.

Why is embracing love a good Habit?

REWARDS

Embracing love is something that can give you the biggest rewards here on earth, and one that can cause the most pain. Because of this, many shower their love on things which will not sting as badly if lost, however will also never satisfy us like the love of another person.

Many give roses to the one they love on Valentine’s Day. Like love, the rose is beautiful, smells wonderful, yet is full of thorns and can be painful if not handled carefully.

LOSS

Most people who have lost someone close will make a point of telling you to say, “I love you” as often as possible. You can never know when you last time together will be. The only moment guaranteed is the present.

WE CAN GET BETTER AT IT

Love is something each one of us can get better at. The purer the love we give, the more pure we will receive. It’s a good habit because it has limitless potential to make your life meaningful, fulfilled, and precious.

WE ARE CREATED TO LOVE

We were created for love. Embracing this basic human character is necessary to being a healthy and well-adjusted individual.

How can you form this Habit?

Just like becoming a proficient artist, mathematician, or race-car driver, love is a skill to be developed. Erich Fromm in The Art of Loving describes love as an art form which must be practiced with discipline and concentration.

Here are some ways to make a habit of embracing love

Define what love is to you
Love yourself well!
Ask others what their definition of love is
Ask those who are close to you what helps them feel loved
Prioritize love like you would a healthy diet or getting enough sleep
Learn about love by reading books, listening to podcasts, or discussing with others
Practice love daily
Be inspired by others who you see loving well