LOVE IS LEGION

Though many assume that unconditional love is fundamental, love for everyone is utopian. Our society is composed of diverse communities possessing an expansive spread of expressions and interpretations; consequently, and wonderfully, the term “love” is layered. While English utilizes a singular term in the account for all of these intricacies, the ancient Greeks defined words that resembled the types of love, functioning to depose clarity. Studied for their sophisticated and reasoned approach toward manners of living, Greek recognizes an extensive list of expressions of love to this day, most prominently: eros, philia, storge, philautia and agape.

One who provides an all-encompassing, unconditional and sanctified benevolence for all, expounds agape love. The levels of maturity and selflessness conveyed through this love balances individuals between acceptance and rejection, unity and division, addition and omission. One must openly approach and consciously experiment with the other love types to uphold agape love.

Among these variants, eros places the heaviest focus on the physical body as opposed to the human mind. It accents intimate passions and sexual desires — the somatic results of affection — and is employed to deepen an already established connection between two individuals. Like an intense storm that softens into light showers, eros is powerful in its compassion, but its results are inconsequential. Though platonic, or “without physical attraction,” it is a viable state of love. Engaging in eros leaves one open to the chaos and selfishness that may intrude by taking part in heavily titillating relationships. If left dissatisfied, one may move forward and seek out a different love — an amicable love. The focal point of philia, a love praised over eros, is friendship. Though insufficient in physical modes of affection, philia suffices in ethics and equality. It diverges from eros by emphasizing a love that removes sexual drives and substitutes it with fellowship. Physical manners are not vital to philias and, according to the Greeks, this fortitudinous form of sensual dispassion is virtuous. Hidden within friendships are requisite elements that format the depth of maturity presented in agape. Philia provides us with a platform to expand our emotion of care and advance our ability to listen. Executed to help others while premeditated to heighten joyous sentiment, philia thrives on balance, agreeing with agape. The familial bond formed by expressing love to your relatives is demonstrative of storge, which concerns empathy and the development of familiarity and grows with time as memories are made; it is a constant flow of endearment between two or among a lineage of multiples. Storge upholds the potential to harmonize individuals and relieve disengagement from those separated by distance. Though the most attainable of the loves due to its familiarity, storge outlays a standard of understanding among differing dispositions that are exhibited throughout agape — thoroughgoing and unrestricted love.

Self-love. We as a collective have heard of this phrase and its significance. Philautia orbits around the certitude that one must love themself before loving another. In accepting yourself, you build courage and establish poise. When you become rooted within your inner being, you host the power to defend your peace from external, counterbalancing catalysts. Then, as an opportunity to venture into other love types arises, you carry with you a strong sense of self. You set your standards, ensure you are treated well and can conclude the validity of the love. In the journey toward developing agape, you must fulfill philautia, as this love allows one to advance through life escorted by profound compassion for others; you choose those who nurture your well-being and are a complement to relationship equity. With every type of love, flaws tag along; storge and philia lack intimacy, philautia is confined to the self, and eros tends to lead with the heart while leaving the mind behind. Love can be both abused and cherished. But once familiar with these forms, one may master their pitfalls and manifest agape at its most monumental potential: love as a solution. Not used in remarks about romance or pruriency, nor amicable bonds, familial links or inner troth, and distinguished by its moral essence, agape fulfills devotion within the active mind. It is a decision made, a conscious endeavor for another’s greatest virtue, that bespeaks through action. Don’t settle for one love. Go through life expanding upon all, and establish a closeness within yourself to be able to evolve love with others. Each type of love prompts appreciation for a different element of the mind and soul, the body and heart, the self and others. Those who opt out of choosing devotion toward reaching agape are stuck in a spinning cycle of relational disconnection. When we place our efforts toward agape, we master to understand ourselves and view those around us to their highest degree.

BY SAMANTHA INSELBERG