The other day, I was talking with a friend, mentor, and someone I have grown to deeply appreciate despite knowing them for only a relatively short time. This person has an intoxicating aura about them that is difficult to fully articulate but impossible not to notice. The conversation was phenomenal, enlightening, intellectually stimulating, or fulfilling, and left me reflecting long afterward.
On this journey of self-discovery and self-actualization, I often wonder why, as a society, we feel the need to confine love, or anything, to a rigid set of categories or limitations. I did not know there was a playbook for life or love.
Ancient Greek philosophy, interestingly, defined seven primary types of love: Eros (romantic passion), Philia (deep friendship), Storge (familial affection), Agape (universal or selfless love), Ludus (playful or casual love), Pragma (enduring and long-standing love), and Philautia (self-love). Even thousands of years ago, humanity understood that love is not one-dimensional. It is multidimensional, constantly evolving, and profoundly interwoven into the very fabric of the human experience. Despite humanity’s endless prolixity surrounding love, its true nature remains one of life’s greatest mysteries.
Whether love manifests as romantic, platonic, spiritual, or something unnamed, each form of love carries its own beauty, brevity, complexity, depth, passion, fulfillment, pain, sorrow, weight, and meaning. Some connections are temporary and whimsical, while others become deeply rooted, lasting, and profoundly fulfilling.
I believe true self-love begins when we honestly recognize our own level of consciousness, awareness, or our capacity to love. It requires us to look inward and recognize that we are all on a journey together. We will make mistakes, and we will feel uncomfortable. Growth rarely happens in permanent comfort. If you constantly need everything to remain copacetic, perhaps you are limiting your own evolution.
We need to confront ourselves authentically and understand who we are beneath the expectations, fears, and conditioning placed upon us by society, upbringing, and ourselves. Yet even when we think we have reached a strong sense of self, life inevitably throws us another curveball. Another challenge. Another lesson. Another mindset. Another person. Another opportunity to evolve and become uncomfortable again.
That is part of being human. Growth is never linear, and healing is never finished. Every hardship, connection, heartbreak, triumph, euphoric moment, and unexpected turn continues molding us into who we become and what we could become.
In many ways, I think constantly longing for the past, resisting change, or clinging too tightly to “how things used to be” can limit not only our individual potential, but our collective growth as a society. Life is movement. Consciousness expands through experience, discomfort, reflection, and connection with others.
I do not claim to have all the answers. These are simply reflections as I continue to wrestle with and explore throughout my journey. If you agree, disagree, or simply have thoughts on love, consciousness, growth, or human connection, I would genuinely love to hear your perspective. Meaningful conversations are how we continue learning from one another and how we evolve to become better humans
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