A book by Dr David Servan-Schreiber (thanks Andrew for the lend of it)
"Thankfully, this important key to our emotional brain does not depend on a partner's love alone. Actually, it depends on the quality of all our emotional bonds - with our children, our parents, our brothers and sisters, our friends, our animals. What is important is the feeling of being fully oneself with someone else. To be able to show we are weak and vulnerable, as well as strong and radiant. To be able to laugh, but also to cry. To feel that our emotions are understood. To know that we are useful and important to someone. And to have a minimum of warm physical contacts. Quite simply, to be loved."
From the chapter The Larger Connection (Quoting Abraham Maslow):
"'The best way to become a better helper is to become a better person. But one necessary aspect of becoming a better person is via helping other people. So one can and must do both simultaneously.'"Here's the author's website which is full of useful info: www.instincttoheal.org
