Love

You see and hear it all the time. Women say that men are afraid of commitment, afraid of love itself. You can’t blame either sex for feeling the way they do. Men often make a big show of portraying themselves as super stud playboys and women who have been hurt make a big show of playing the victim.

As a man, I have taken that popular men’s side often in my life. Then my life changed. I met the woman who seemed to make the world stand still the first time I kissed her. She showed me her vulnerability and her soul and she accepted me when I showed her mine.

Still I didn’t learn. Even while knowing that I had found the woman I had been searching for, I still sought outer confirmation of my attraction from the opposite sex. I let my immaturity and insecurity overcome my reason.

It took a personal crisis in our relationship for me to realize how foolish this is. When I settled on the notion of being happy within a committed relationship and reconciling my happiness within myself through only her, a wonderful thing happened. I realized that instead of wearing the proverbial “ball and chain” that I had actually been set free. Once I was able to dispense with the thought of whether I was still attractive to the opposite sex, my mind was freed from a tremendous amount of clutter. My thoughts were clearer, more focused and more goal directed.

I suspect that anyone who is committed to personal growth will come to the same conclusion. To feel secure in a loving committed relationship frees anyone, man or woman, to reach their full potential and make a contribution to the betterment of the world. In this way, a couple’s love is a shining beacon of goodness spreading positive energy throughout the world and serving as an example for others to follow. It’s pretty clear we need more of that these days.