I send a virtual hug to you who open now my post. 🤗

All of us need to be refueled by love — by the warmth and familiarity of those dear to us. From the very first moments of life, an infant's sense of self is built through loving touch, familiar voices, and the emotional attunement of caregivers.

This need does not fade as we grow. Adults, just like infants, require regular emotional "refueling" — moments of genuine connection, recognition, and love from their partners, family, and friends. When we feel seen, accepted, and embraced as we are, our healthy narcissism is nourished and our capacity to love others is strengthened.

Dr. Solan's concept of healthy narcissism as an emotional immune system helps explain why love feels so essential: it restores the familiar sense of self, soothes anxiety, and allows us to open ourselves once again to the world and to others.

"The capacity to be happy and loved depends on our ability to tolerate the otherness of our partners while staying true to ourselves." — Ronnie Solan

Explore more in The Enigma of Childhood — Dr. Solan's book on healthy narcissism, couplehood, and the art of loving relationships.