Love and Relationship
Love is a major issue in life that needs to be confronted. If not solved, you'll have tendency to be isolated and self absorbed. According to Robert J. Sternberg, there are three components of love - intimacy, passion and commitment.
Intimacy is the the emotional element. It involves self-disclosure that leads to connection and trust.
Passion is the motivation or drive. It moves the physiological or bodily arousal into sexual desires and acts.
Commitment is the cognitive element. It is the choice or decision to stay with the loved one.
Patterns of Loving
by Sternberg
Nonlove - Most personal relationships are "nonlove." There is no intimacy, passion or commitment. It's plain social interaction.
Liking - Intimacy is only present. The relationship has closeness, understanding, emotional support, affection, bondedness and warmth.
Infatuation - Passion is only present. It's "love at first sight" - easy comes and easy goes. Sometimes it can last. Infatuation is characterized by strong physical attraction and sexual arousal with no intimacy and commitment.
Empty love - Commitment is only present. This is common in long-term relationships and arranged marriage.
Romantic love - There is intimacy and passion but no commitment. Lover are bonded physically and emotionally but are not committed.
Companionate love - There is intimacy and commitment but no passion. This is common on friendships or long-term marriage where physical attraction is gone but still committed to be together.
Fatuous love - There is passion and commitment but no intimacy. Some relationships happen so fast. Marriage was rushed. Intimacy was not developed. This usually doesn't last long despite the intent to commit at the start of the relationship.
Consummate love - This is called the "complete love." There is intimacy, passion and commitment. Many people strive to maintain this kind of love but every person changes through time. The relationship may either dissolve or endure forever.
Importance of Love and Relationship
Personal relationships are essential to health. A loveless or friendless person has more tendency to commit suicide, involve in traffic
accident, develop eating disorder, fall ill or die. Relationships fosters health because it gives a person a sense of meaning, support and belongingness. A person with social ties is more likely to eat and sleep better, get enough exercise, cope with stress better and is likely to avoid substance abuse. A person in a relationship has more opportunity for expression of physical drive and emotional release.
Find Love Now
Books on Love and Relationships
Would you like to discover your infinite potential for healing and moving through life’s challenges? If so, THE POWER OF INFINITE LOVE & GRATITUDE by Dr. Darren R. Weissman will help you view your life from a new and heightened perspective. You’ll learn to unleash your mind and body’s extraordinary capacity for healing; and you’ll begin to understand the complex language of physical symptoms, dis-ease, and stress. This work reveals the journey of your spirit and sheds a new light on one of the greatest mysteries humankind has attempted to unravel—the subconscious mind.
As you read, you’ll find that you’re learning how to transform and master your life based on these key lessons: The universe is infinite; you have free will—a choice with every experience; everything is interconnected; judgment is prohibited; the greatest power is self-love; you need to embrace life with the attitude of gratitude; you must take responsibility for your life; life has meaning; and much more.