Love, love, love...

"The second [commandment] is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Mark 12:31). We long have known that infants fare best in a loving environment. Our fundamental needs include affection and tenderness, i.e. love. A flurry of recent studies affirms that this need remains with us throughout our lives. Scientific studies into longevity, mental and physical health, happiness, and wisdom have identified "supportive relationships" [That sounds like love to me.] as one of the most accurate predictors that we will exhibit those positive attributes.

Our brains function better when we love and feel loved. Consider dating, as an example. When we begin to date, we begin to see the world through someone else's eyes. That leads our brains to forge new neural pathways. Our centers of pleasure also grow more active. Making a good friend can have the same impact, as can encountering someone truly other and attempting to understand that individual. Our possibilities of having wisdom and happiness increase.

Our egos become healthier when we love and feel loved. When we enter a deep and healthy relationship, we say "I" a lot less and "we" a lot more. We expand our understanding of who we are and who enriches, empowers, inspires, and stimulates us. That shapes who we are and deepens our appreciation of life.

We become more capable of dealing with the ups and downs of life when we love and feel love. Love makes us vulnerable. No one can hurt us more deeply than the person we most love. When a loving relationship fractures or ends, our entire bodies ache. Yet, love deepens our ability to recover from heartaches. A loving touch or word not only offers the benefit of the immediate pleasure and neural pathway stimulation, but also activates positive memories of previous positive experiences. Having our hand held by someone with whom we share love can lower elevated blood pressure, ease our response to stress, and lessen our feeling of physical and emotional pain.

For the good of our brains, egos, and emotions, let's continue to date the love of our lives. That person has had a major influence on what's best with and in us. Keep those neural pathways humming. It's fun and healthy.

For the good of our brains, egos, and emotions, let's intentionally be a friend several times daily. We lack sufficient energy to love everyone deeply, but the more we respond to others with love, the better they feel and the better we feel about who we are.

For the good of our brains, egos, and emotions, let's play with children whenever possible. No one has more capacity for fun than the typical child. Children awaken our capacity to love and when we love them, we strengthen their brains, egos, and emotions.

For the good of our brains, egos, and emotions, let's give thanks to God for the wonder of how we are made. When we love our neighbor we not only obey God but also do something good for ourselves! Alleluia! Amen!

Easter Blessings,

LP