is it possible to practice authentic loving
in my philo class, my professor asked us to react to his argument that it is not possible to practice authentic loving. here is what i wrote.
Is it possible to practice authentic loving?
Much have already been discussed about love but more often, it is romantic love that has come to be of interest to many. We seldom talk about love towards parents or the parents’ love towards their offspring. If we are going to talk about love in this context, we can possibly say that it is likely to practice authentic loving because the love of a mother to her child is limitless just like the love of God to His creation is perfect, faultless, great and vast. Love, be it romantic, platonic or what have-you, should be modeled from God as he is the one who first showed us what truly love is - patient, kind, eternal. If we follow this, then we can say it is possible to practice authentic loving.
But many, I am not saying that all, have a very crooked definition of love. A love to be requited could be a test of the authenticity of love. When we love, we are motivated by the desire to be loved in return. But to demand for something in return actually defeats the very definition of what love is - selfless. Love is not conceited. It does not satisfy the self, hence it satisfies the other.
Love for many people, is not really love, but a mixture of the desire to love, and the desire to be loved, plus a willingness to do anything to show and evoke this sentiment, and consequently to be more comfortable in one’s own personal life.
Love is not a sentiment of an emotion nor is it a desire or a selfish motive for right action in daily life. Love is a hard thing to cultivate. I can say that it is possible to practice authentic loving but it will be intensely difficult to apply because we often draw ourselves to a responsive affection. It is our human nature to always validate what we feel and by doing so, if we draw our minds to the thought that if we give a gift, we should receive a gift as well or if we love we should be loved in return sort of drags us into a vicious and brutal cycle. If we stall ourselves from the glamour of this definition about love and allow it to be dissipated by true and selfless love, then I can truly say that it is really possible to live and practice authentic loving.
Is it possible to practice authentic loving?
Much have already been discussed about love but more often, it is romantic love that has come to be of interest to many. We seldom talk about love towards parents or the parents’ love towards their offspring. If we are going to talk about love in this context, we can possibly say that it is likely to practice authentic loving because the love of a mother to her child is limitless just like the love of God to His creation is perfect, faultless, great and vast. Love, be it romantic, platonic or what have-you, should be modeled from God as he is the one who first showed us what truly love is - patient, kind, eternal. If we follow this, then we can say it is possible to practice authentic loving.
But many, I am not saying that all, have a very crooked definition of love. A love to be requited could be a test of the authenticity of love. When we love, we are motivated by the desire to be loved in return. But to demand for something in return actually defeats the very definition of what love is - selfless. Love is not conceited. It does not satisfy the self, hence it satisfies the other.
Love for many people, is not really love, but a mixture of the desire to love, and the desire to be loved, plus a willingness to do anything to show and evoke this sentiment, and consequently to be more comfortable in one’s own personal life.
Love is not a sentiment of an emotion nor is it a desire or a selfish motive for right action in daily life. Love is a hard thing to cultivate. I can say that it is possible to practice authentic loving but it will be intensely difficult to apply because we often draw ourselves to a responsive affection. It is our human nature to always validate what we feel and by doing so, if we draw our minds to the thought that if we give a gift, we should receive a gift as well or if we love we should be loved in return sort of drags us into a vicious and brutal cycle. If we stall ourselves from the glamour of this definition about love and allow it to be dissipated by true and selfless love, then I can truly say that it is really possible to live and practice authentic loving.