When we think of love we often think of romance. However, when it comes to love, romance is really only the tip of the iceberg. Love describes emotional connections of all kinds, between two people, within one person, and even within the universe. Of course you can feel love for your families, friends, and pets, but it is equally valid to feel love for a favorite food or favorite color or a city that fostered joyful memories. Though romantic love may have a reputation for being the most exciting form, it isn’t necessarily the deepest or most fulfilling. It certainly can be, but often isn’t. 

The Ancient Greek Philosopher Plato is partially known for his philosophies on love. Put very loosely, he theorized that love is the force that pulls all things together. He said that when you love someone or something, you are recognizing an essence in that person or thing that is also in yourself. This theory aligns with the Hindu custom of greeting one another with the word “Namaste”, which translates roughly to “The divine in me recognizes the divine in you”. 

So, both Plato and ancient Hindu teachings believed that love is recognition of an essence between two people. To plato, that essence was the soul, and to the Hindu religion, the essence was divinity. Despite the slight differences, you can see how these two interpretations of the experience of love are so closely related that they become intertwined. After all, what is the real difference between the soul and the divine? It could be said that our souls are the divine in us. 

Romantic love can be a thrill, but doesn’t this sound so much more profound? Romantic love can be superficial and therefore fleeting, while true love, the type described here, the magnetic recognition of two souls, is something that can last throughout lifetimes. 

Have you ever met somebody and known instantly that he or she is truly supposed to be in your life? You see yourself in them, and therefore you see them fitting into your life. These are the people our souls, our inner divinity, have chosen for us. As much as you may want romantic love, these true-love relationships might not be of a romantic nature. But you must understand, they could be far more powerful than that. 

But hey, the chances that after hearing this you’ve lost interest in romantic love are slim to none. If you, like the huge majority of human beings, crave the excitement of romantic love and aren’t ready to rest until you find it, you can work on drawing that person into your life by getting in touch with the energy of love using two simple exercises: 

1. Sit down, close your eyes and visualize yourself surrounded by an everflowing stream of love. This love is a warm, gold, light flowing easily like a breeze. Even if you don’t feel the love, continue imagining it moving towards you and permeating your skin. 
    
2. Imagine that just outside your window there is a compassionate and loving being. It doesn’t have to be a person, it can be an imagined creature, whatever love incarnate looks like to you. This creature is wise and eternally forgiving, their protective glance keeps you safe and envelopes you with beauty. 

Practicing these visualizations will train your mind to believe that you are worthy of love in every form. When you believe you deserve love and envision yourself as a lovable being, you will be surprised by the love-fueled people and experiences that flow into your life.