Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right.
-Henry Ford
So many people would agree that they know love when they feel it, yet it can be difficult to describe. My definition of love is the committment to another's well-being, nourishment and growth, while also protecting them from harm. The following is a list of actions, attitudes, qualities and characterstics that contribute to the creation of feelings of love. LOVE is when you are being: Open Sharing Respectful Patient Friendly Trusting Giving Serving Setting appropriate limits Strong Supportive Vulnerable in openness Encouraging Nourishing Generous Honest Responsive Acknowledging Giving through the right effort Forgiving Receptive Being your best Communicative Assertive Accepting Open to connection Self-supporting Understanding Giving consensual sexual pleasure Listening Dependable Taking healthy risks Sustaining LOVE IS NOT when you are being: Selfish Addiction Dependant Angry Playing it safe Fearful Sarcastic Attacking Jealous Avoidant Hurtful Withholding Controlling Passive Denying Lazy Irresponsible Closed Attacking Competitive Dominatiing Susceptible to weakness Rejecting Blaming Closed to connection Disrespectful Hurtful by name-calling Excusionary by keeping secrets Negative
LOVE is when you are being:
LOVE IS NOT when you are being:
"this is just great stuff" Read more by anonymous on The Place of Sex in Our Lives
"Wow... really puts it into perspective!" Read more by Joe Andrade on The Place of Sex in Our Lives
Andrew Aaron, LICSW 50 North Second St. New Bedford, MA 02740 ......................................... Tel: 508-997-6091 x106 Fax: 508-999-7795
Capable of helping romantic partners with problems about which few therapists are experienced. Send Andrew an e-mail.
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