What Does Love Mean to You?

Love is more than just an emotion; It’s a Choice.

Love isn't constrained by emotions or conditions.

Four expressions make up love in its purest form. Each of these entities exists on its own, yet they all come together to form what is known as love.

Passion

Passion creates a flame in the soul.

You met someone.

Started a business.

Enrolled in a piano class.

Purchased a writing course.

The butterflies in your stomach…

The attraction you feel…

If what you profess to love does not spark a fire deep in you, you’ve missed it from the start.

Sure, passion ignites you, but does it sustain you?

This is where the next entity comes in.

Commitment

When I see elderly couples in churches enjoying their fourth decade of marriage, I can't help but wonder whether it was the butterflies that kept them together all these years.

Certainly not.

But you know what did?

Commitment.

Discipline, perseverance, and patience are fruits of commitment.

So, passion fuels you, but commitment keeps you going.

Even so, how can you claim to love someone or something if you're not happy?

Which pave the way for the third...

Pleasure

Are you happy with her?

Does your work make you smile?

Is it always a mindless, never-ending moment of pain?

You claim to love your 9–5 work, but the mere thought of it makes you angry every morning.

You profess to like writing, yet the idea of writing irks you.

Is pleasure captured in your experience?

What you're not proud of, you can't love.

Even if your happiness stems from thinking about your partner, your career, or your talent.

Are you willing to make sacrifices for its growth?

Sacrifice

Can you discomfort yourself?

Are you willing to bear a little pain for it?

Can you make compromises?

Although you claim to adore her, you are unable to find time in your busy schedule for her.

You claim to love him, but you can't give up that designer purse to cover his investment.

You claim to love writing, but you can't deny yourself a little slumber.

It is impossible to love anything if you do not love the vision.

Before you open your lips and speak the word “love”.

Ask yourself:

Is there a spark within me?

Am I able to commit?

Do I feel happy about it?

Can I make sacrifices for this?

So I ask again:

What does Love mean to you?

@JANICE BROWN