Love as an Active Verb | When We Choose Love as the Path

The older I get, the more I understand that love is an action.

When you love yourself and find yourself in a place where your daily actions are reflected in how you feel—and in the life you are building—you naturally feel called to offer your love and your peace to the world: to your spouse, your children, your siblings, your friends, your pets.

According to Thich Nhat Hanh, love requires being fully present, cultivating self-love first, and practicing deep listening and loving speech to remove suffering and create joy.

Loving speech begins with ourselves. If we use negative inner dialogue, we can only offer that same negativity to others. If we cannot cultivate self-love, we cannot truly love others.

In recent years, the wellness and self-care movement has sometimes drifted toward an excuse for selfishness. While the original intention of self-care was to prevent burnout and ensure we have the energy to show up for others, it has, at times, evolved into a hyper-individualized—and sometimes narcissistic—pursuit of personal or aesthetic perfection.

Love, however, is not an infatuation or an unfulfilled promise. Love is a practice. It is a daily commitment to selflessness, responsibility, and unconditional care—because we genuinely care for the well-being of those we love.

As a child, I was obsessed with the idea of romance—the belief that one perfect love would fulfill everything. Yet even then, without consciously realizing it, I understood that the love I needed came to me from many directions: my parents, my siblings, my friends, the laughter we shared, the support we offered one another. The trips, the memories, the shared experiences—these are still the fuel that keeps my inner engine moving.

So what is love?

According to Miguel Ruiz, “Love is not an emotion, but the creative, unconditional life force that accepts others exactly as they are, without judgment or attempts to change them.”

Daily Acts of Love That Strengthen Relationships

• Communication & Connection

Send a good-morning message. Ask about their day. Create time for a daily, undistracted conversation. Put phones and screens away and look into your loved one’s eyes and ask:

“How are you, my love? I am here. I truly care.”

• Small Gestures & Kindness

Perform simple acts of kindness—make a favorite drink, leave a note, offer sincere compliments. Pause before speaking, especially before making a critical remark.

• Physical Touch

Initiate hugs, kisses, and gentle affection to maintain emotional and physical closeness.

• Acts of Service

Lighten someone’s load by doing a chore they dislike, cooking a meal, or running an errand without being asked.

• Active Listening

Listen to understand, not to reply. Remember past conversations. Allow space for your partner or friend to feel heard, seen, and supported.

• Gratitude

Express appreciation for the small, everyday moments. Gratitude builds a foundation of trust and emotional safety.

• Conflict Resolution

Approach disagreements with a desire for understanding and consensus rather than “winning.”

Self-Love as a Daily Practice

• Intentional Self-Care

Set aside time for your own well-being so you can sustain your capacity to love others. Define what nourishes you—and commit to maintaining it.

• The Reverse Golden Rule

Treat yourself with the same kindness, patience, and compassion you offer to those you love. Love always begins within.

• Forgiveness

Release small, daily frustrations instead of carrying them forward. Forgiveness creates emotional spaciousness.

Creating Lasting Rituals with Yourself and Your Partner

• Begin and End Together

Start the day with intention—alone or with your partner—and end it with connection. Even simple rituals create stability.

• Stay Present

Choose presence again and again. Even during ordinary, routine days, presence is an act of love.

🌿 Join us on transformative journeys that weave mindfulness, sustainability, and the timeless wisdom of nature, curated by Suddha Prem for those seeking deeper connections with themselves and the world around them.

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Love as an Active Verb | When We Choose Love as the Path is part of Suddha Prem Magazine — Issue #5

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