How do you define love? Is it a mystical connection based solely on emotion, or is it a rational decision based on compatibility? A combination of the two? Which is more important?
How do you define love? Is it an ...
Created: 06/22/14
Replies: 13
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Join Date: 10/15/10
Posts: 3234
How do you define love? Is it a mystical connection based solely on emotion, or is it a rational decision based on compatibility? A combination of the two? Which is more important?
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Join Date: 10/16/10
Posts: 730
I haven't a romantic bone in my body, and consequently have a great deal of distrust in that emotional connection. I tend to think that's all hormones talking, and I don't think it can last. I was a lot more comfortable when I met my future husband thinking, "Huh... this could work..." and having it get better & better all the time. So I lean toward rational, I guess.
And I definitely don't believe in the soul mate, just one person is out there waiting for you thing. I think if you keep an open mind, there are likely many people with whom one can have an excellent, long-lasting partnership.
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Join Date: 03/03/12
Posts: 221
I define love as the ability to care deeply for a person after the insanity of infatuation is over. There is a point early on where you cannot imagine your significant other could do anything wrong, but after a while you begin to notice the little things, the feet of clay, so to speak. The rational part of your mind asks, "Can I go on living with that? Will it drive me over the edge?" I've been around long enough to know I can't change or save someone who has character flaws that make me grind my teeth. The ability to cope and still care is the reality of love.
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Join Date: 10/16/10
Posts: 730
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Join Date: 05/01/13
Posts: 62
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Join Date: 09/16/11
Posts: 165
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Join Date: 02/03/14
Posts: 257
I think it is a combination of the two, as Deeh articulated so well! there has to be an attraction as well as a rational awareness that this relationship is worth working on and work is the operational word! Even the attraction may wane without effort!
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Join Date: 05/24/11
Posts: 146
I think that everyone's definition of love is different and personal. Myself, I agree that it is a combination. It is a step beyond caring...and willing to do something for someone else in lieu of for yourself.
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Join Date: 09/09/13
Posts: 164
Good question. I'm not sure. I believe love is the precursor to something deeper and much more that follows. Maybe it is a bit of both, unknown, just look at the divorce rate. If we could answer this question perhaps we could solve the demise of most relationships.
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Join Date: 03/22/12
Posts: 353
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Join Date: 06/16/11
Posts: 410
I think that love between mature adults is definitely a combination of both emotion and reason. The thing called love between most teenagers is mostly hormones and not a lot of rational thought anywhere in sight. And mature love evolves endlessly in long term relationships and can flip flop from an emotional to a ratio0nal connection many times over the years.
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Join Date: 07/02/12
Posts: 7
I think every one has a different definition of love. We can love a person by caring, being physically attracted,being emotionally connected, etc. We can love someone because they need you. Can we love our pets? Our home? The same way as we love a person? I do think we can and the combination of rational, emotional, physical comes into play and changes as the relationship continues.
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Join Date: 03/19/14
Posts: 26
I believe you can have a strong connection with another, even build a life of astounding contentment -without the love thing. I believe you can love someone and spend a lifetime fighting and struggling and hoping and despairing for a peace that never comes. In an ideal world, you'd feel that hormonal, undefinable love connection with your perfect soul mate. But there is surely nothing ideal about life's journey.
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Join Date: 07/02/12
Posts: 7
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