The Essence of Love: Understanding and Experiencing It

Love is a subject often written about and spoken of by many. It is one of the most discussed topics and, just as essential as food is for the body, love is essential for the soul. We can even say that love is the food of the heart.

Thinkers and poets have described love in various ways, but let's consider it through a simple analogy. Imagine receiving a perfume. When you smell it, you enjoy its fragrance. This pleasant scent is what we call the fragrance. Similarly, love is like this. When we connect with someone or something, can we enjoy that connection? If we can, that pleasant experience is what we call love. (We could also say that the gratitude we feel for the source of this pleasant experience is love.)

Many people say we should give love. However, I believe that love cannot be given; it can only be experienced. We can express the love we experience through words, looks, and actions. This is how another person can experience it. The pleasure they derive from this experience is their love. Therefore, we simply say "give love," but it is actually about expressing love so others can experience it.

We need to understand love as described above. Only then can we bring about a positive change. If we say we love someone, it is their quality, not necessarily ours. The reason is that they can make us happy. But if we have love without any expression or action, it does not benefit the other person. However, if we express it, they too will feel love.

Yet, there can be problems. If our expression is not enjoyable to the other person, love will not be created. We need to understand what brings them joy and express our love accordingly.

To Whom Can We Feel Love?

We can feel love for anything that brings us happiness: God, people, flowers, perfumes, birds, animals, wind, rain, songs, other arts, and many other things can invoke love in us.

When Does Love Disappear?

Love fades when the happiness we used to get from something is no longer there or when it becomes boring to us. This usually happens when we find something more enjoyable.

How Can We Make Someone Like Us

The answer is simple to say but difficult to implement. We should allow the person to enjoy through us whatever they are interested in.

What Do We Mean by Enjoyment?

For example, we provide children with good food, clothes, toys, education, affection, good conversation, and playtime. These are things they can enjoy.

We might think that children do not like being advised or taught. It is true; they do not enjoy it at the moment. However, when they grow up, they will be able to experience and enjoy what we taught them. That is when they will feel love for us.