Self Love Challenge Day One: 8 Ways to Love 💞

Welcome to Day One of my 5 Day Self Love Challenge, leading up to Self Love Day on January 8^th 🥰

Each day will include a simple task, and a self-affirmation to repeat.

Today’s challenge is to understand the 8 different types of love, which will give us a better understand of our relationships, including the relationship we have with our self.

Did you know that Self Love is one of the ways we can express love? Self Love is at the top of my list, because when we love ourselves unconditionally, it’s easier to give and receive love.

When we’re in love, our brain releases hormones which lead to a state of euphoria, and other positive feelings. Love isn’t exclusive to romantic relationships; the goal is that by the end of this 10 Day Challenge, you’ll be able to feel that same state of euphoria, by being in love with your Self!

The 8 Different Types of Love

Philautia – Self Love

A healthy form of love where you recognize your self worth, and take responsibility for your wellbeing. Self Love is necessary to be able to give and receive love from other people (we cannot give what we don’t have). If we don’t love ourselves, how can we truly love others?

Just as you might show love and affection to someone else, you must also show that same love and affection to yourself.

Philia – Affectionate Love

Not a romantic attraction; platonic. Philia occurs between family members, best friends, and people who share the same values and respect for each other. Referred to as ‘brotherly/sisterly love’. Above is me with my bestie, a platonic relationship we maintained for over 9 years. We both loved spending time in nature. On this occasion we turned up in similar outfits!

Storge – Familiar Love

Similar to Philia, however this love is more like parent-child love. There is no physical or sexual attraction, but there is a strong bond, kinship, and familiarity between people. This love comes easily in parent/child relationships.

Eros – Erotic Love

A passionate love displayed through physical affection such as hugging and kissing. Romantic, sexual, physical (an expression of sexual passion and desire). This love is a desire for another person’s physical body.

Ludus – Playful Love

Flirtatious, child-like, commonly found in the beginning of a relationship, aka the ‘honeymoon period’. Infatuation, butterflies in the stomach, the ‘high’ you feel when you see or hear your love, are all indications of Ludus. Studies have shown that it lights up the brain the same way as someone who is high on a drug. It makes you feel alive and excited about life.

Mania – Obsessive Love

Jealous, possessive, co-dependent, caused by an imbalance of love towards each other. Driven by a survival instinct, a person desperately needs their partner in order to find self-worth. With a healthy balance of playful (Ludus) and passionate (Eros) love, the harm of obsessive love can be avoided.

Pragma – Enduring Love

A maturing love that develops over time. Effort put into long-term relationships that are reciprocated. Commitment and dedication are required to reach ‘Pragma’. Instead of falling in love, you’re standing in love with the partner you want to build your life with. Each are committed to making the other person happy.

Agape Love – Selfless Love

Unconditional, altruistic, a type of spiritual love, self-sacrificing (e.g. Jesus). This is the highest level of love you can offer. It is selfless, empathetic, loves everyone, and gives without expecting to receive anything in return. Offering Agape Love is a decision to spread Love despite the circumstances.

Exercise: Evaluating Your Relationships