Fully Loving
Love, for such an abstract concept, is a core part of the human experience. It shapes how we understand ourselves and the world around us. Love shows up in our relationships with family, friends, partners, children, pets, job, community, hobbies, spiritual beliefs, and even within our understanding of ourselves. Love is often the most powerful in our relationships with others. But how do we ensure that we are expressing love in the most valuable way to those who are most important to us? Below are some tenets of love to be aware of when giving love to others.
Fully loving someone means loving both their positive traits and their flaws. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to accept all bad behavior from your loved one that affects you or them negatively. It simply means that you are aware and accepting of your loved one as a whole person and not just on board for the parts of them that are easier to love.
Fully loving someone may mean accepting and respecting differences between you. This is especially important within relationships between parents and children. Parents often expect that their children will be like them in every way, and sometimes have a hard time accepting when their children choose different paths or ideals from them. It is important to remember that what is right for you is not necessarily right for someone else and that you can validate someone’s choices without agreeing with them yourself.
Fully loving someone means taking an interest in the things that that person is passionate about, and in some instances engaging in these passions with them. Be open and willing to learn from someone, even if you do not take much interest in their passions. Make sure to share your passions with them as well.
Fully loving someone means giving of your energy both emotionally and physically. Be willing to run outside and play with your child. Call your mother from time to time just to check in. Be willing to listen fully to your partner when they’re having a hard time. Engage with your friend in a hobby they enjoy. Remember as well that you cannot give from an empty cup, so make sure to also give yourself time for rest and relaxation in order to be able to fully engage with others as needed.
Fully loving someone means being aware of how they receive love and attempting to give love in a way that make them feel fully loved. Even if you do not receive love in the same way, recognize that the other person does and attempt to meet them in their love language whenever possible.
Fully loving someone means first loving yourself. If you are unable to love yourself you cannot give of your full self to someone else. Indicators of low self love include inability to set boundaries, lack of self care, negative self talk, and feelings of burnout. If you notice any of these challenges within yourself, address these issues through whatever means possible to better be able to be present for your loved ones.
Giving and receiving love is an important aspect of all relationships. I hope the above list is helpful for ensuring that your relationships reach their full potential and that you get the most out of the experiences within these relationships.
