Love. A really big four-letter word, right?  We use the word as effortlessly as we breathe. In a brief conversation, I can use it multiple times, including my love for tacos, seafood, the beach, and my profession. I especially use it when it comes to how I love my sons, family members, and how much I feel loved by the people in my life.

One of my favorite descriptions of the various types of love that exists was captured in New York Life’s, “Love Takes Action,” campaign unveiled at this year’s Superbowl. The heartfelt commercial depicts the four words for love ancient Greeks used: philia, the affection that grows from friendship; storge, the kind of love you have for a parent, grandparent or sibling; eros, romantic in nature, prompts the uncontrollable urge to say “I love you,” and; agape, the most admirable form of love that takes actions of courage, sacrifice, and strength.

For women, society typically prepares us from birth for the pursuit of romantic (eros) love. Somehow, somewhere, a prince of some sort exists who will love us, take care of us, rescue us, and for this, we will love him in return. I’m still not sure about the rescue part. Rescue from what exactly?

At any rate, expectations of marriage, children, careers, cooking, cleaning, and everything in between remain relevant – for women – so much so, many believe the hype themselves. In all of these assigned expectations, seemingly no one considers alternatives or concerns that may exist. What if a woman doesn’t want to marry? What if the prince turns out to be a frog? What if she can’t have children? What if  being a stay at home mom is her chosen career?

The pressures for women to subscribe to societal sentiments are real. As a woman who consciously decided not to remarry, and declined three marriage proposals over several years from the same man, I know this far too well. While my mother no longer says it from her mouth, when she sees me, her eyes still ask, “When are you going to let him make you an honest woman?” Because her accusation of dishonesty is no longer spoken, neither is my need to burst out in laughter at her misapplication of what I believe love really is, followed by an explanation of the wisdom I applied in the decision making.

I encourage you to exercise wisdom in your decision making about what love means to you. While philia, storge, and eros are important forms of love, the greatest of these is agape. My faith commands us to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” To do that, you have to love yourself first. Too often, I see women spend so much time in search of romantic love, and worrying about meeting everyone else’s expectations and needs, or being betrayed. In turn, they betray themselves.

If all of us took the responsibility to pursue: a love relationship with the author and finisher of our faith, and; agape love with one another, we can go about the business of serving others with an expectation that “all of these things will be added.” Aristotle said, “At the intersection where your gifts, talents, and abilities meet a human need; therein you will discover your purpose.”

Take the journey to discover your purpose and become the best version of yourself, visit www.yourpointofpride.com to answer the call.