The basic answer is that humans have a need to know they are compatible with other humans.
This relates to the relationship between spouses as well as family members and friends.
Then there is the more detailed answer to this question. Let’s dive in.
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Can love really be defined?
In the literal sense, yes it can. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means two people have a strong affection for each other.
This affection can stem from either kinship or personal ties between them.
Sometimes, when people have a sexual attraction with someone else and act upon that frequently, they look upon that as love.
Truth be told, a sexual relationship by itself does not necessarily mean two people are in love with each other. True love goes much deeper than that.
Humans need more than one kind of love
Human beings need all kinds of love, not only one. What do we mean by this? There are different types of love and humans need all of them.
To better understand what we mean by this, let’s explore and define the different types of love.
Different forms of love in a nutshell
Of course, most of us associate love with the life partner we all seek, no matter what criteria we use to find that person.
While romantic love is essential for many of us to feel we’ve lived a full life, there are several other types of love that aren’t romantic at all.
We love our parents, brothers and sisters, our other family members, our friends, and our pets.
Then, there is perhaps the most precious type of love of all – the love we feel for our children.
Needless to say, every person feels some type of love during his or her lifetime.
What is so special about having a life partner?
Although there can be exceptions, most of us seek that special person to love for the remainder of our lives.
That is our soulmate, the person that will ultimately become our spouse or life partner.
For this type of love, there are no boundaries. It can be an opposite-sex person, a same-sex person, and a person of any race, ethnicity, or religion.
There are also no restrictions on the ages of the two people. If they are in love, that is a beautiful thing to share.
The deeper need for love
When people look for that significant other to love, they are not only searching for somebody to love them.
They have a deep need to love another person as well. Most of the time, people are not born with a passion to hate.
Hatred is learned along the way, usually associated with some form of ongoing childhood cruelty.
It is different with love. Most humans need to share their inner love with a person for the remainder of their lives. They are born with love inside them.
As we stated, they will automatically love their family members and pets.
When they get older, their need to love another human and have that love returned grows stronger. Eventually, they do find that life partner and true happiness.
What does it mean when you find someone to love?
It means that you accept this person and all their personality traits, both positive and negative, without conditions. This is the person you always envisioned yourself with.
Perhaps at some point in your life, you had a picture in your mind of the perfect mate. You continue to search until you find them.
Out of nowhere, you come across this individual who personifies your dream mate.
You instantly know this is your soulmate, the person you were always meant to be with. Then deep in your heart and soul, you experience the emotion of love for them.
Despite any quirks they might have, you know they are the one for you.
Love has primitive roots for humans
The human need for love is not something new. It goes all the way back to the beginnings of mankind.
Back then, there may have been alternative ways of expressing this love. However, the passion and emotional feelings of love were always present in human beings.
Can a person live without love?
Not very happily. Even if they lack the desire to find a life partner, they typically still love their parents, their family, and their friends.
For a person to go through their entire life without any kind of love would be quite rare, and they are likely quite unhappy.
Love for one’s family
From the time you are born, you form a lasting bond with your parents. They take care of you and try to fulfill any desire you may have.
Your parents protect you and shower you with love and comfort. Later on, you will also experience the same feelings towards your sisters and brothers.
As you grow older, your love for extended family will also grow.
There are your grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins. In close families, love for each one of these people is apparent.
They will usually assist your parents in raising you and display their own love for you.
Love for your children
Earlier we said that this is perhaps the most important love of all. Love for a spouse could eventually end. Parents ultimately pass away.
Siblings and cousins go their separate ways. Your children will always be your children. Your love for them will be immeasurable.
In many ways, the emotional bonds with your kids will never be broken.
No matter what life holds in store for them or what kind of troubles they run into, your love for them will never vanish. This is true love and passion at their finest.
How do you know when you have found your true love?
Sometimes you know instantly. There is that unmistakable feeling deep inside your heart and soul.
You can’t wait to spend time with this person and feel sad when you must part. You want to make him or her a permanent part of your life and have children with them.
There are also situations where a couple has known each other as good friends for a long time.
Then, suddenly the feelings kick in and you two realize you are in love. This can happen too.
It does not mean you are any less in love. It just took longer to evolve into a life partnership.
Love leads to other powerful emotions
When you are in love, you learn to be compassionate and kind. Additionally, you care for that person and the world around you.
Prior to finding your true love, these emotions remained dormant inside you. They needed the spark of the other person’s loving feelings to blossom.
Occasionally you will experience sadness and anger towards this person. That is part of life. You will have arguments and periods of silence.
However, the love between you and the other person is so strong that you will overcome these things.
Ultimately, you will lead a very happy life when you have love, and the more types of love the better.
