One of our favourite newsletters, Brainpickings, has recently been discussing the concept (or should we say, reality) of romantic love. Why do we love? Is it to protect us from our fear of loneliness? Shield us from the burden and harsh realities of life? Share in the joy and experience of life? Distract us from ourselves? Procreate? Learn from each other? Help us overcome our shortcomings? Make us whole again? After all, part of the human condition is to feel a dislike for ourselves, so does love complete us, make us feel better about ourselves?
Your experience of romantic love may well be all of these things, undoubtedly some. The more we learn, the more we realise that life is not black and white, with one answer that satisfies and satiates our desire to tick the answer box. It is complex and we are complex.
But if we leave you with one question, it would be this. If we are the sum of our thoughts and emotions and to a large degree, a slave to these, what would happen if we were not? After all, when we are not, it is usually at times of deep meditation and breathing. A blissful state where we become still and at one with ourselves, indeed, with everything. We feel more connected than ever before. We feel unconditional love.
So where does romantic love fit in to this?
Maybe we find the answer here. Whether we do or not, this is a fantastic video from Skye C Clearly & Ted-Ed runs across a breadth of ideas from centuries old to modern-day thinking.