[lead]The world tells us that love is one of many emotions, a state of mind that is temporary and there is more to life than it. It made me wonder, is it really so. I began my search for an answer by running a search on the internet.[/lead]

 Looking for the answers

The search threw up some interesting answers. One of them said that being in love is a chemical state and an emotional one too. As the chemicals and emotions change, the state of being in love may change. This argument suggested that it could be of a temporary nature but made no reference to it being an illusion. Another said that, more than chemicals and emotions, it is defined by behaviour, which is real and backed by habit and reason. This source negates the theory of love being an illusion.

My take on love

Well, it is no illusion simply because it feels real to the person in love. Transient or permanent, you feel and experience love’s every effect. The high of a stolen glance, the low of a furious fight, the joy of spending time together and the sorrow of a betrayal are all the effects that we experience for real. This is not an illusion.

Love is not blind either

It does not blind you to the faults of your lover; it simply makes those faults more acceptable, thus creating a perfect environment for mutual respect and growth. The day that love fades away, these very eccentricities appear starker than they are and may be a bit too much for us to handle.

It is the perfect anaesthetic for our perceptions

We tend to be judgmental a lot of the time. It works as the perfect anaesthetic, numbing judgement to allow us to experience bliss in its purest form. It allows us to accept and be accepted without pressure or judgement. It gives us the passion and strength to fight for our beloved and protect them from insult and harm.

Love overcomes social norms

With love, we care more about the needs and concerns of our loved ones, overriding social norms. Remember  Romeo-Juliet, Shirin-Farhad and Heer-Ranjha? They didn’t care about social standing, family ties, morality or riches – they cared simply for each other. The love of these couples was real, not an illusion.

How can something that produces such profound effects be an illusion?

If you ask me, it simply is the comforting factor that warms you when you come home from a hard day’s work. The warm gulp of whisky that sets fire to your blood when you need a pick-me-up, the comfort food when you are feeling low and the soft breeze that caresses your cheek on a hot summer day.

So how can something that produces such profound effects be an illusion? it is, simply put, the reason we are alive, capable of feeling and smiling. Tell me if you still think love to be an illusion.

GIF Credits: Tenor, Giphy