The topic of love has been a favored subject for poets, writers and philosophers throughout the ages. Depending on the person and culture, the definition of love can vary widely — but one thing most agree upon is that it involves strong feelings of affection and loyalty.

Love can be found in many different forms, including friendship, familial, romantic and platonic. It can also be directed toward non-human animals, principles and even religious beliefs. But the most common form of love is that between two people. Whether you are in love with your children, your spouse or your creative vision, these intense emotions can drive you to do almost anything for the ones you love.

When you’re in love, the world seems like a better place and you want to be there for others. You’ll help them with their problems, cheer them up when they’re down and even give them money if necessary. This is because your empathy and hormones are working together to make you a good human being.

However, this kind of love isn’t always healthy and can have serious repercussions for your health and well-being. It’s important to understand what healthy relationships and a balanced lifestyle consist of in order to avoid these negative effects.

The traditional biology of love sees it as a mammalian drive, similar to hunger or thirst. It focuses on hormones like oxytocin and neurotrophins as well as social and cultural factors. While this view isn’t wrong, it doesn’t go far enough to explain the full range of human love experiences.

A more holistic view of love looks at the interdependence of people and things in the world around us. While biological models focus on the connection between humans, societal and psychological models include the connections between humans, non-human animals and the environment. This view is based on the idea that humans are social creatures and depend on other people for survival and well-being.

No matter how you define it, love is a complex phenomenon that can be hard to pin down. But it is essential to our lives and to a healthy society. It’s the reason why we care about our loved ones, work to support our communities and protect our planet. It’s also why we seek out adventure and continue to learn new things. It’s how we find happiness despite life’s ups and downs. To be happy, you need to know what your values are, accept that not everything in life will go your way and proactively align your decisions with those values. For more on how to be a happy person, check out these science-backed steps.