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The ancient Greeks studied love and classified them into eight different types. They studied everything from public speaking to the stars in the universe.
Love is something they were absolutely fascinated with. Let’s take a look at the different types of love so you can better understand your own relationships.

Does love always make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Or does it sometimes cause us problems in our relationships? Well, the answer is both.

Humans are inherently selfish. We all want to “win” and to get other people to understand what we want. And unfortunately, that often results in two people
who just don’t understand each other. Because of that, their relationship suffers.

One key to healthy relationships is understanding the different types of love. Everyone gives and receives love differently. In addition to that, some people
are much more capable of experiencing certain types of love than others.

1. Agape: Unconditional Love

First, we have agape love. This is an altruistic, selfless, unconditional love. The Greeks thought it was quite radical, perhaps because so few people seem
capable of feeling it long-term.

Some people would describe agape as a type of spiritual love. For example, Christians believe that Jesus exhibited this kind of love for all humans. He was
selfless and sacrificed Himself so that others could be rid of their sins. He suffered for the happiness of others.

Agape is universal love, such as the love for strangers, nature, or God. It does not depend on familiarity. Agape can be said to encompass the modern concept
of altruism, defined as unselfish concern for the welfare of others. Recent studies link altruism with a number of benefits. In the short term, altruism leaves us
with a euphoric feeling—the so-called ‘helper’s high’. In the longer term, it is associated with better mental and physical health, as well as longevity.
Altruism, or agape, helps to build and maintain the psychological, social, and, indeed, environmental fabric that shields, sustains, and enriches us. Given the
increasing anger and division in our society, and the state of our planet, we could all do with quite a bit more agape.

Agape love is selfless love, the love for humanity. It is the closest to unconditional love. The love you give without expecting anything in return reflected in
all charitable acts. It is the compassionate love that makes us sympathise with, help and connect to people we don’t know. The world needs more Agape love.

This is an unconditional love of humanity that sees beyond the outer surface and accepts the recipient for whom he/she is, regardless of their flaws,
shortcomings or faults. It’s the type of love that everyone strives to have for their fellow human beings. Although you may not like someone, you decide to
love them just as a human being. This kind of love is all about sacrifice as well as giving and expecting nothing in return. The translation of the word agape
is love in the verb – form: it is the love demonstrated by your behaviour towards another person. It is a committed and chosen love.

Example of Agape love: The person in your life that is always giving to others and needing nothing in return. This is the way they show their love, and Page345
this is the way they are energized through love. By giving all that they have, and all that they are, to those around them, they find beauty in life.