I’ve always been curious about the concept of love. We see it in movies, we hear about it from our parents, and we feel it for our partners—but what is it actually? Is the love from a parent truly different from the love of a sibling or a partner, or is it all just one feeling?
For a long time, I thought love was the magical, selfless thing I saw in Bollywood movies. But as I grow older, I’ve started to see that reality is much messier and more complex than a "happily ever after" fantasy.
The Myth of Selfless Love
We are told that parents love their children because it is "in their blood," and partners love each other because they are "soulmates." While that sounds beautiful, I’ve started to realize that love is often a complex feeling based on dependence.
When you love someone, you become emotionally dependent on them. If something happens to that person, it hurts you. This suggests that love isn't just a floaty feeling; it’s a deep-rooted connection where our happiness is tied to another person's presence.
Love vs. Money: Are They Really Different?
I know this sounds controversial, but I’ve started to see a similarity between love and money. Think about it: both involve a transaction.
- Emotional Exchange: We love people because they fulfill our needs—whether those needs are physical, mental, or emotional.
- The Need Factor: If a person stops fulfilling those needs, does the love stay the same?
- The Two-Way Street: Just like money, when both sides are "giving" and "receiving" emotionally, both are happy. If only one person gives, the balance is lost.
"I only understand the need—emotional, physical, and mental. When those needs are fulfilled, we call it love."
A New Perspective on Relationships
The world is complex, and how we see love depends entirely on our own life experiences. Instead of looking for the "perfect" love found in movies, maybe we should look at the needs we fulfill for each other.
When we recognize that love is about supporting each other's emotional and mental well-being, it becomes less about a fairytale and more about a real, human partnership.
Final Thoughts
I’m still figuring out what love is, but I know it’s not as simple as I once thought. It’s a beautiful, messy, and transactional part of being human. Whether it’s with a partner, a friend, or a parent, it’s about finding someone who meets your needs as much as you meet theirs.
What do you think? Is love a selfless feeling, or is it built on our human needs? Let me know in the comments!
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