Beyond every beautiful experience that can ever occur to one; beyond every wonderful achievement we could ever achieve, Love seems to be the apex of satisfaction of our experiences and achievements. Love keeps the existence of humanity and guides our hearts against making unhealthy decisions. It is a language that toddlers, kids, teenagers, adults, and elderly ones can understand.
There are various ways we can express love to others. Here are four acts of love to help build a connection with our loved ones:
1. Giving
You may be surprised at how giving can build connection, strengthen relationships, make those unhappy instantly happy and reconcile disputes. People love receiving gifts. Gifts make people happy. Giving gifts to our friends, family, teachers, neighbors, and anyone around us is a way of demonstrating our love to them.
However, we can also give to charity organizations. A study conducted in 2006 by Jorge Moll and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health showed that when people give to charities, it activates regions of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust, creating a “warm glow” effect. Scientists also believe that altruistic behavior releases endorphins in the brain, producing the positive feeling known as the “helper’s high.”[1]
2. Showing Appreciation
Appreciating people can be seen as an act of love. It shows you respect them and honor their contribution towards you. When you appreciate people, they are excited and willing to do more and willing to push beyond their limit for you. It can melt people’s hearts.
When you appreciate people, appreciate them genuinely and mean what you say. In genuine appreciation, growth occurs both in our minds and endeavors. Appreciating the universe, our parents, friends, teachers is a good virtue to imbibe.
John F. Kennedy simply put “as we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them” [2]. We must be genuine in our appreciation in both words and actions.
{Read: Gratitude- A Skill for Happier Living}
3. Helping out
Helping out your friends, parents, or any other significant person in a small or big assignment can be counted as an act of love. Dr. Gary Chapman in his book ‘The Five Love Languages’ identifies that they are five love languages by which we how can express love to others. He classified ‘Act of service’ as a love language.
Doing things like making the bed, cooking meals, cleaning the house can be love acts which parents appreciate. Some friends want you to show love to them by helping them with their assignments. It is simply an act of love.
{Read: Ways to Show Random Acts of Kindness}
4. Spending quality time
We spend time with our significant ones to share memories, moments, and values with others. Spending quality time with others makes them understand us better. It improves bonds and strengthens relationships. Below are some practical ways we can spend quality time with others:
- Reading books others
- Watching television together
- Hanging out together
- Dining together
- Going to the cinema
Helen Keller quoted “The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart” [3]. In expressing love to people, please be aware that people are quite different. Expressing love to people based on their values can go a long way in their hearts.
Love genuinely and keep it simple.
{Related post: 7 Acts of Love)
References:
1. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/5_ways_giving_is_good_for_you
2. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_f_kennedy_105511?src=t_appreciation
3. https://www.quote.com/blog/77-perfect-love-quotes/
How can you effectively show love to people around you? I’ll like to hear from you in the comments.
Teens Meet Outreach 