Category Archives: Love is an Act of Will

Marriage & the Marriage Vows

Posted on January 8, 2024 by John

We all know marriage (Christian marriage, Catholic Marriage, any religiously sanctioned marriage) involves making sacred promises to another. But do we really get what those promises involve? Do we really understand — meaning grasp, deeply comprehend — that we are … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, Love is a Choice, Love is a Commitment, Love is a Decision, Love Is a Verb, Love is an Act of Will, Love is Not a Feeling, Marital Vows, Marriage, Marriage Vows, Personal Growth, Perspective, Spiritual Growth | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Is Your Heart Like a Cup or Like a River?

Posted on December 9, 2023 by John

From Zen Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hahn’s book “How to Love” — “If you pour a handful of salt into a cup of water, the water becomes undrinkable. But if you pour the salt into a river, people can continue … Continue reading →

Posted in Conscious Love, Ego, Emotional Maturity, Intimate Relationships, Love is a Choice, Love is a Decision, Love Is a Verb, Love is an Act of Will, Love is Not a Feeling, Luke 6:32-35, Mature Love, Personal Growth, Real Love, Self-Extension, Thích Nhất Hạnh, The Examined Life, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Genuine Love & Conscience: Truth v Lies

Posted on November 4, 2023 by John

My writings on this blog thus far have largely focused on differentiating Genuine Love — willing and acting towards the best and deepest and highest interests of the other person as an actual distinct and unique human being in their … Continue reading →

Posted in Gospel of John, Gospel of Matthew, Love, Love is a Choice, Love is a Commitment, Love is a Decision, Love is an Act of Will, Love is Not a Feeling, M. Scott Peck, Personal Growth, Real Love, Self-Awareness, Spiritual Growth, The Examined Life | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Lessons and Liberation in Marriage

Posted on June 7, 2023 by John

“In our society, of course, there is no need to become an adult. One may remain—one is exhorted daily to remain—a child forever. “Marriage is pictured as a form of imprisonment, oppression, boredom, and chafing hindrance. Not all these accusations … Continue reading →

Posted in "Marriage Isn't For You", Character, Commitment, Conscious Love, Critical Thinking, Intimate Relationships, Love is a Choice, Love is a Commitment, Love is a Decision, Love Is a Verb, Love is an Act of Will, Love is Not a Feeling, Mature Love, Michael Novak, Personal Growth, Perspective, Real Love, Responsibility, Self-Awareness, Self-Extension, The Examined Life, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Marriage Box. (Relationships Are About What We Put Into Them, Not What We Get Out of Them)

Posted on December 4, 2013 by John

“Some of the biggest challenges in relationships come from the fact that most people enter a relationship in order to get something: they’re trying to find someone who’s going to make them feel good. In reality, the only way a … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthony Robbins, Love is a Decision, Love Is a Verb, Love is an Act of Will, Love is Not a Feeling, Marriage Box, Mature Love, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Real Love, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Heart of Love: Who to Exclude & Why

Posted on March 8, 2012 by John

. . For those of us who are truly trying to grow spiritually, the question of “who am I to love and how?”—and its inverse, “who am I not to love or not to give my attention and care to … Continue reading →

Posted in 365daysofcourage.wordpress.com, Intimate Relationships, Kierkegaard, Love is a Choice, Love is a Commitment, Love is an Act of Will, Love is Not a Feeling, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25: 31-46, Matthew 25:40, Mature Love, Mental Health, Real Love, Self-Extension, Spiritual Growth, Thomas Merton, Truth, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

When It Comes to Love, We ALL Start Out As Beginners . . .

Posted on March 2, 2012 by John

When it comes to love, we all start out as beginners. It’s like picking up a tennis racquet for the first time. We may like to think that we already know how to hit the ball, and that with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alan Paton, Antilove, Conscience, Conscious Love, Courage, Emotional Maturity, Gandhi, Gratitude, Immature Love, Intimacy, Intimate Relationships, Leo Buscaglia, Love is a Choice, Love is a Commitment, Love is an Act of Will, Love is Not a Feeling, Mature Love, Mental Health, Real Love, Rilke, Spiritual Growth, Truth, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

It Changes EVERYTHING! (part 2)

Posted on January 31, 2012 by John

I was reading through another blog this morning, and as I read through one of her posts I came across the following paragraph and I thought it to be very wise and well-stated. And then I just started writing my … Continue reading →

Posted in Conscious Love, Courage, Differentiation, Emotional Maturity, Immature Love, Intimate Relationships, Love is a Choice, Love is a Commitment, Love is a Decision, Love is an Act of Will, Love is Not a Feeling, M. Scott Peck, Mature Love, Mental Health, Real Love, Responsibility, Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Road Less Traveled, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It changes EVERYTHING!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by John

There seems to be a double standard at the heart of most intimate relationships, and that is that we tend to consistently expect the best for ourselves while not nearly as often expecting the best out of ourselves. We want our … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthony Robbins, Antilove, Conscience, Conscious Love, Courage, Differentiation, Emotional Maturity, Gandhi, Generosity, Love, Love is a Choice, Love is a Commitment, Love is an Act of Will, Love is Not a Feeling, Matthew 7: 1-6, Mature Love, Real Love, Self-Extension, Spiritual Growth, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

How To Fall In Love Again (updated 1/10/12)

Posted on January 10, 2012 by John

“I have no way of knowing whether or not you married the wrong person. But I do know that if you treat the wrong person like the right person, you could well end up having married the right person after … Continue reading →

Posted in C.S. Lewis, Conscious Love, Courage, Emotional Maturity, Gandhi, GinaParris.com, Immature Love, Intimate Relationships, Love, Love is a Choice, Love is a Commitment, Love is a Decision, Love is an Act of Will, Love is Not a Feeling, M. Scott Peck, Mature Love, Mental Health, Real Love, Self-Extension, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments