What are love catalysts? First, let’s start at the beginning. In Canada, the awareness of Valentine’s Day began towards the middle of the 19th century. By 1900, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in technology. The industrialists and manufacturers of paper, lace, and cards worked hard to promote their products, creating a change in the number of cards sent to include everyone on holiday.
Since the mid-nineteenth century, Canadians continue to profess their love for their partner and sweetheart. When you experience love, your brain releases hormones which lead to euphoria and other positive feelings. This can leave you wanting more. Humans can experience eight types of love in various relationships, such as with romantic partners, friends, family, and strangers. Understand love catalysts; the kind of love you feel and the catalyst for it with the descriptions below.
Affectionate Love
Affectionate love is love without romantic attraction and occurs between friends or family members. It appears when both people share the same values, respect each other, and referred to as “brotherly love.”
Love Catalyst: The mind. Your mind determines which friends are on the same wavelength as you and who you can trust.
How to Show Affectionate Love:
• Engage in deep conversation with a friend.
• Be open and trustworthy.
• Be supportive in hard times.
Enduring Love
A uniquely bonded love that matures over many years; it’s a love between two people who choose to put equal effort into their relationship. Commitment and dedication are required to reach “Enduring Love.” You are “standing in love” with the person you want by your side.
Love Catalyst: Subconscious. The subconscious drives partners towards each other. This feeling comes unknowingly and feels purposeful.
How to Show Enduring Love:
• Strengthen long-term relationships.
• Seek and show effort with your partner.
• Choose to work with your partner forever.
Familiar Love
Familiar love is naturally occurring and rooted in immediate family or close friends. It’s a boundless love built upon acceptance and deep emotional connection. This love comes quickly and immediately in parent-child relationships.
Love Catalyst: Causal. Your memories encourage lasting bonds with other individuals. As you create more, the value of your relationship increases.
How to Show Familiar Love:
• Sacrifice your time, self, or personal pleasures.
• Quickly forgive harmful actions.
• Share memorable and impactful moments.
Romantic Love
Romantic love is a primal love that comes as an instinct for most people. It’s passionate and displayed through physical affection. These romantic behaviors can include holding hands, kissing, and hugging.
Love Catalyst: Physical body. Your hormones awaken something inside of you which must be satiated with romantic actions from an admired partner.
How to Show Romantic Love:
• Admiring someone’s physical body.
• Physical touch, such as hugging and kissing.
• Romantic affection.
Playful Love
Playful love is child-like and flirtatious. It’s commonly found in the beginning stages of a relationship and can consist of teasing, playful motives, and laughter. In contrast to young couples, older couples who strive for this love find a more rewarding relationship.
Love Catalyst: Emotion.Your emotions allow you to feel excited, interested, and involved with another person.
How to Show Playful Love:
• Flirt and engage in whimsical conversation.
• Spend time together; laugh and have fun.
• Engage in child-like behavior together.
Obsessive Love
Obsessive love is an obsessive love towards a partner. It leads to unwanted jealousy or possessiveness, and most cases are found in couples with an imbalance of love towards each other. An unevenness of Romantic Love and Playful Love is the leading cause of Obsessive Love.
Love Catalyst: Survival instinct. Survival instinct drives a person to need their partner to find a sense of self-value desperately.
How to Avoid Obsessive Love:
• Recognize obsessive/possessive behaviour and avoid acting on it.
• Focus on yourself more.
• Put trust in your relationships.
Self-Love
Self-Love is a healthy form of love where you recognize your self-worth and acknowledge your personal needs. Self-love begins your well-being, which can be challenging because you can’t offer what you don’t show yourself (love).
Love Catalyst: Soul. Your soul allows you to be honest about your needs, along with your physical, emotional, and mental health.
How to Show Self Love:
• Create an environment that nurtures your well-being.
• Take care of yourself as a parent would care for a child.
• Spend time around people who support you.
Selfless Love
Selfless love is the highest love to offer. It is without expectations of receiving anything in return. Showing selfless love is a decision to spread love in any circumstances — including destructive situations. Selfless love is not a physical act, it’s a feeling, but self-love acts can elicit Selfless Love since self-monitoring leads to results.
Love Catalyst: Spirit. Your spirit creates a purpose bigger than yourself. It motivates you to pass the kindness on to others.
How to Show Selfless Love:
• Improve the lives of others.
• Be conscious of your actions.
• Offer your time and charity to people in need.
Utilizing a combination of different love types can create something beautiful. While there isn’t a perfect equation for every relationship, be conscious of the different love catalysts to help you feel the different kinds of love. Did you give this some thought? Follow
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