An Emotional Puzzlement

[kokopelle]

It is truly a bizzare thing to be in love with somebody. I'm talking about the "falling in love" vs. the "I love them" thing. Irrational is the word that comes to mind. Crazed is another word. I think the hallmark is that they take your breathe away and you look past all (most of) their possible flaws. Body and emotional reactions seem to have a mind of their own. Mere attraction, or finding somebody attractive, jumps to another level. The 'rational' side of me asks how productive and practical is this? Where is the off switch? Sigh... the magic of body chemistry and emotions.

Comments

[valkyriur.livejournal.com]

From an evolutionary standpoint, the feeling of "love" makes a lot of sense. It creates a lust for procreation and a desire to create group (most often a family unit) to ensure survival of the species.

Beyond that, I think perhaps love is a way to support ourselves, whether that is physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Although, sometimes we 'love' people or things that are unhealthy for us. Possibly that we subconsciously want to learn or grow from that experience. Not that we want to go through such painful experiences, but that our brains desire...challenge, perhaps?

[greensh.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of the experience having something we want, perhaps need, to attach to. The Buddha would have something to say about this. What is craved and why? Can it be released or instead redirected? What are the lesson(s). Good stuff.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

You nailed the challenge with the sentence remnant “but that our brains desire...challenge, perhaps?” What is on the other side of the mountain? A cliff edge or a lovely meadow? Desire says one, experience says the other. I am really relying on my intuition, with clear instructions regarding the ground rules. This could / should combine the hope, joy of exploration, and extreme caution / denial.
To do anything would evoke soul crushing despair.

[valkyriur.livejournal.com]

I think we also want and hope for things to be different. Even if we know the consequences that will happen, we do them anyway.