The answer to this question is found in the question itself. What is "loving" and what does a loving relationship look like? The key to a loving relationship is showing great care for another person; respecting their boundaries; accepting them for who they are, what their beliefs, values, and opinions are.

If we look at the dictionary definition of loving, it is easy to understand what that means and what a loving relationship would look like. Behaving appropriately to create a loving relationship can be challenging and difficult as we often want others to be, think and feel as we want them to be: think and feel - rather than what is naturally right for themselves.

This is the key to and the true meaning of a loving relationship - to respect and accept someone else for who and how they are rather than mold them into the image and likeness of what we desire them to be.

Unfortunately, many relationships today are focused on what only one of the individuals can get out of the relationship rather than on mutuality, and what both partners can experience from those relationships in terms of being valued, cared about, cherished or “loved.” So many of us who are actually in relationships, even married couples, are still experiencing loneliness and isolation because our relationships are not focused on mutual fulfillment and intimacy.

When people feel valued and cared about, their level of anxiety and loneliness decreases and their well-being increases. If you are in a relationship, it may be a good idea to take stock of how fulfilled each of you feel in that relationship and then take steps to communicate your feelings more openly to one another so that you can enhance your mutual sense of happiness and well-being.

- Dr. Georgianna Donadio