Summary: <p></p> <p>Welcome to the first episode of the About Love Podcast!</p> <p>In this inaugural episode, we lay the foundations for what we mean when we use the word “Love” in our writings and workshops.</p> <p>It’s a tricky word, and means different things to different people. And sometimes what someone calls “Love” is actually just dysfunction, masquerading as affection or compassion or intimacy.</p> <p>If we want to be capable of experiencing something truly beautiful in our life and our relationships, we have to make sure we understand the lower and higher forms of its expression, and actively develop the kind of love that can transform our lives.</p> <p>To explore that in this episode, we look at Greek words that influence our cultural views of the word “Love,” and talk about the lower forms of Love like the unchosen lust and passion of <em>Eros</em>; the dutiful and familial love of <em>Storge</em>; and the self-centered version of self-love we all know as Narcissism.</p> <p>We also discuss the higher forms of love like the loyalty, vulnerability, and true friendship that springs from <em>Philia;</em> the healthy version of self-love and inner confidence called <em>Philautia</em> (that actually increases your ability to love others); and finally <em>Agape</em> – the universal and unconditional love sometimes translated as charity.</p> <p>These higher forms of love are something we all need to develop and seek to master, since they represent the Love that allows us to experience joy and peace in any moment, no matter what is going on. Not only that…developing the higher forms of love actually directs the lower forms of love into their healthiest expressions and helps us eliminate dysfunctional tendencies in our relationships and our family.</p>
