I have read this prompt over and over and I keep asking myself if people have negative examples of where they have felt love? Anyway…I feel loved every day and I only realised this while contemplating a response to this prompt. I don’t think i have ever felt unloved. I have felt unappreciated and perhaps like my presence is unwanted in certain spaces (as can happen), but I have never felt unloved.
Throughout my life, I have been the apple of my dad’s eye. Knowing this, I never had reason to question whether I was loved or not. Knowing that I am loved by someone and, more recently, understanding and accepting that I am loved unconditionally by God has ensured that I don’t need to seek love anywhere. For this, I am eternally grateful, as I know that not everyone has this experience in life. I do find that I have a need to be seen, appreciated and respected.
There are quite a few ways that this can happen that works for me. An example would be when someone acknowledges something that I have said. It doesn’t matter whether they agree with me or not; what matters is that they hear me. I don’t know why, but that is very important to me. I guess if I looked at my life through the lens of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the bottom three rungs are taken care of (physiological, safety and security, love and belonging), and I tend to look to others to take care of some of my esteem needs, in particular, recognition and respect.
I am actually blown away that this has been quite an insightful little exercise. I think I have discovered something important about myself! Whadda you know! 🤪 I must admit that until this moment, I hadn’t quite been able to internalise the quote from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Now, I can finally say, “I get it.” 😊

What insights did you come up with when you contemplated this question?
Thanks for stopping by. Be blessed.
Loving your response to this bloguanary prompt. It was lovely seeing your learn something about yourself at the same time you shared it with us. I agree – being heard is so important. Like you say, you don’t have to be agreed with (though it would be nice, right?), you just need to be acknowledged and that for you is a form of love. So blessed that you are the apple of your Dad’s eye 🙂 that’s really beautiful xx
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Thank you Janice! It would definitely be even better if I was agreed with as well 🤪😂
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Yes there is such a thing as negative love.. lol I call it psychotic love, that I will take you out if you leave… that Lifetime series type of love.
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lol. Ooh yes. Thanks for that reminder 🙈🤣
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lol sorry I was readying your post and am like seriously. I have been personally through 2 such relationships in my lifetime where your like run for the hills, 😭. Am just reluctant to respond to this post right now cause am going through what I think is called toxic love, so my fingers refuse to type anything about love whilst am conflicted. Love your post
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Thank you for responding. I will hold you in my prayers while you work your way through it. 🤗
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Thanks 🙏
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