How to Make a Better You – How do you define “LOVE”
by Nina Sabin - Healthy Tip
At this time of year, with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, love is on everyone’s mind. Some people have a significant other and some are alone. This holiday brings both joy and sorrow. The question is how is love defined and how can you have it in your life with or without a significant other?
When I researched Webster’s Dictionary there is not just one definition of love. Webster’s Dictionary had over nine definitions of love as a noun and four definitions of love as a verb.
It depends on how the word is used and what relationship it is contributed to.
Here are the ones I found relevant to this blog:
Noun
1) strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
2) attraction based on sexual desire: affection and tenderness felt by lovers
3) the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration
Verb
1) to hold dear: cherish
2) to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness
3) to like or desire actively: take pleasure in
The definitions above are how society views love. But there is a greater love than all of these listed above… and that is God’s love for His children.
The Bible’s definition of love is listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4 – 8.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
Jesus was our example of this love and how to live a life of love. If each one of us could spend time focusing on the way the Bible teaches us to love the world and your life would be so much better for it.
So, the question is how do we find God’s love and how are able to display this type of love. It is not easy to do on our own, but when we turn to God to help us with our relationships then this type of love can come naturally.
As you are looking at the people you have in your life, how can you apply this type of love to them? Love starts within. First, you have to make sure you apply the above ways to love to yourself. If you don’t love yourself how can you love others? Let’s look at each biblical characteristic of love and see how you can start applying these to your life if you are not already do so.
Love is Patient and Kind
If you are like me, patience isn’t something that comes naturally to me. However, as I spend time with God I am learning to listen before I speak. I am trying to be slow to respond so I have time to listen, be empathetic, and avoid becoming angry. Too often I jump to conclusions or respond because I want thing done my way. We have a selfish nature, but that is not good for relationships. The next time you are interacting with someone and things seem difficult see if you can remember to display love by being patient and kind.
Love is NOT Envious, Boastful, Arrogant, or Rude
Look back at times in your life that things did not go well in a relationship. It is probably because one of you displayed the above actions. Most people like to make themselves look important through the things they have, their status, and instead of thanking God for those things, they like to let others know of their success. Or people see other’s success and they become jealous because they compare what they have with others instead of appreciating what has been blessed to them. Being envious, boastful, arrogant and rude are the opposite of showing love and should be avoided in all relationships. You do this through showing gratitude to God for what you have.
Love is NOT Selfish
We tend to have selfish desires. We want what we want regardless what the other person thinks. However, to have a successful relationship and truly demonstrate love you need to consider the other person’s needs above your own. If we don’t then we tend to do the following behaviors which only tears apart relationships. Those behaviors are: insist on your own way, being irritable, resentful, or blaming. When we focus on others needs above our own and treat others the way we want to be treated healthy relationships develop and you learn to truly experience love.
Love is Truth
When you bear, believe, hope, and endure all things. Then you will experience true love. A life without love is a life that is lost and sad. Yet, a life that lives for love learns that love never ends and brings the joy and peace that makes every relationship amazing.
So, as we get ready for Valentine’s Day, think about love defined in the Bible and you will be impressed how your life and your relationships will experience true love.
It can be hard to make these love changes on your own, however, with support and accountability it becomes possible.
As a healthy life coach, I can give you the tools, support and accountability to help you to love yourself which in turn helps you to love others.
Give yourself and others in your life the best Valentine’s gift ever by contacting me today for a Complimentary Breakthrough Session. You will be so happy that you did.