MindWorks
Love’s Worth — Priceless!
Renita C. Gabriel, Psy.D., contributing editor
http://www.breakthroughspsycservices.com
Words cannot capture the overwhelming sense of joy and connectedness I feel gazing into the eyes of our four-month-old daughter while cradling her in my arms. Many mothers who relate to this experience describe it as love. Love is often classified as an emotion. One definition provides that love is “a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties.” In the field of psychology there is some debate about the definition of love, though most would describe it as a positive mood state. Regardless of how you define love, one thing is evident: at its core are relationships—with others and with your self. Can we put a price on that? Not likely. Most of us would agree that relationships are critical to our lives and should be highly valued. How do we demonstrate that we value our relationships? Consider the following TIP:
- Take inventory of relationships in your life. Which relationships do you consider important? List them. A relationship with yourself should be on this list.
- Invest in those relationships. Although how this is specifically implemented may differ across individuals, one common feature of investing in an important relationship will be the amount of time you commit to that relationship. Are you spending time with your loved ones including yourself? What is the quality of that time like?
- Prioritize your relationships. Remember that material things can often be replaced but relationships with the people we love cannot. Making choices in your life that will strengthen your relationships will sometimes come at a price, but if you make the relationships in your life a priority, then the cost will be something you can afford to pay.
References
Lamy, L. (2011). Love or the black sun of personal relationships. Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior 41 (3), 247-257.
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love)
Disclaimer—Please note that the monthly "TIP" does not constitute a therapeutic relationship with the readership nor substitute for a professional consultation with a licensed mental health professional.