Love comes in many different forms (all with unique names) and because it is the season of love, I decided to compile them all into one helpful guide. The names for these types of love come from ancient Greece. Even Valentine's Day's mascot, Cupid, dates back to 700 B.C. when Greek mythology labeled him Eros. And like many of ancient Greece’s tragic myths, love can be turned against you by people you hold close. So you can use this to hopefully not get screwed over by love this season.
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Philia |
Known as affectionate love, Philia is the love exuded from true friendships. This love is mostly shown through exchanging gifts with friends or general care for one’s friends’ mental well-being. Being around friends can boost your overall mood, so spend time with them as much as possible.
But blindly following friends through any situation can be less than favorable. Your friendships should have mutual respect for one another, as no one person should give their love 100% only to get little to nothing back. So if any of your friendships seem to be one-sided, talk about how you both can come to equally support one another. And if they continue to be a fake friend, it's best to find someone else to show Philia to.
But blindly following friends through any situation can be less than favorable. Your friendships should have mutual respect for one another, as no one person should give their love 100% only to get little to nothing back. So if any of your friendships seem to be one-sided, talk about how you both can come to equally support one another. And if they continue to be a fake friend, it's best to find someone else to show Philia to.
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Storge |
Known as familial love, Storge is the love shown from natural affection. This love is mostly shown through spending time with family and having personal connections with them. Showing your family that you love them can create lifelong memories you can fondly look back on.
But sticking by toxic family members because “blood is thicker than water” can ruin your mental health. Family should respect your boundaries and want to care for you. So if you feel like your family isn't being considerate of your feelings, try to speak out and communicate your needs. And if they continue to disregard your feelings, then there will always be others out there who will.
But sticking by toxic family members because “blood is thicker than water” can ruin your mental health. Family should respect your boundaries and want to care for you. So if you feel like your family isn't being considerate of your feelings, try to speak out and communicate your needs. And if they continue to disregard your feelings, then there will always be others out there who will.
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Eros |
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Known as passionate love, Eros is the love shown in romantic relationships. This love is mostly shown through dates and love shown to partners on any day of the year (not just on Valentine’s Day). Showing your partner that you care for them can give you a person who will stay with you forever through thick and thin. But staying with a person through obligation or toxicity can make you feel worse. Your partner should respect you and your feelings, showing you they love you no matter what. So if you feel your partner isn't respecting you, you should talk and work out what you both can do to make your relationship better. And if they continue to disrespect you and your love, it's best to find someone else to show Eros to. |
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Mania |
Known as obsessive love, Mania is the love shown by hard fixations. This love can be depicted through buying excessive amounts of your favorite book series or watching a show over and over again. Being into different things can be a great expression of yourself and help you find communities of people that you can relate to.
Yet some obsessions can become damaging to you and the people around you. The things you like should not turn toxic by overuse. So if the fandoms you are in are becoming too much you should take a step back and chill out on that particular obsession. And if yours or someone else’s fixation is becoming a bit too much, then it might be time to evaluate exactly what makes this thing so much more addicting.
Yet some obsessions can become damaging to you and the people around you. The things you like should not turn toxic by overuse. So if the fandoms you are in are becoming too much you should take a step back and chill out on that particular obsession. And if yours or someone else’s fixation is becoming a bit too much, then it might be time to evaluate exactly what makes this thing so much more addicting.
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Philautia |
Known as self-love, Philautia is the love shown from yourself to yourself. This love is shown through self-care like mental health days, care for your body, and putting your needs to the forefront. Being in tune with yourself can give you a very healthy life, as you will be happier as a person.
But this can get pushed to the side by other things in life to the point you have no time to focus on yourself. This can damage your overall health and make it hard for you to love yourself in the process. So try and find any time to take care of yourself whether it be a nice long bath, doing your hair, or watching your favorite movie. You should always show yourself Philautia in any way you can.
But this can get pushed to the side by other things in life to the point you have no time to focus on yourself. This can damage your overall health and make it hard for you to love yourself in the process. So try and find any time to take care of yourself whether it be a nice long bath, doing your hair, or watching your favorite movie. You should always show yourself Philautia in any way you can.
Jazirrah Davis-Carter
