I was having a discussion with a dear friend about social issues that affect us emotionally. This conversation lead to the subject of love and hate. We differed in our opinion about which was an easier emotion to have. We talked about which was more instinctual, which required more work and from a societal perspective which is more prevalent.

I was so fascinated by our polar opposite in opinion, it made me want to investigate this further. I took a small poll and these are examples of answers I received when asked, Is it easier to love or hate?:

"It’s much easier to love. Hate is a very stressful emotion."

"I would say its easier to hate, that's why its so hard to love but that's why they say nothing good comes easy!"

"I believe loving is easier, hate takes to much energy."

"Personally I feel that is easier for people to hate.  Hate - anger takes the place of reason.  I think that if people took the time and made true effort to stop hating than they would have to admit that their reasons to hate are pretty stupid and baseless.  It would take admitting being wrong, unfair spiteful - weak."

"Of All The Animals In This World - Man is The Only One Who Is Cruel.  Man Inflicts Pain For The Pleasure of It."---Mark Twain

"The answer would be hate."

"Much easier to hate!  Its better to love.....Hating is easy, you don’t even have to have a reason or an explanation just the grimey feeling inside you about someone or a circumstance, but to truly love is a condition of the heart that usually develops over time and situations." 

"Some say there is less energy involved when you hate someone...but I feel that it is easier to love everyone in spite of any differences."

"Easy to Hate."

"Hate because it take a lot of work to love someone. It’s like a job because you have to constantly try to keep them happy and that not easy."

"It is easier to hate then love...love takes time and patience."

"It is easier to hate."

"Loving is easier based on the fact that I was taught that hating is not an option."

"Some people are easy to love. some, not as easy. Hate doesn’t come easy – it takes effort to hate but people take the ‘easy way out’ and choose hate over love."

"LOVE…Hatred takes lots more energy to feel and takes more energy OUT OF YOU."

"It’s easier to 'hate' someone because of the old adage 'out of sight out of mind'. If you’re not around someone you’re not thinking of that person and hate just becomes a dislike of that person. Love takes too much work that often times is not reciprocated." 

Of course it is easier to love...the most natural gift that we are born with. Hate takes much more energy and focusing. These are very strong statements and equally as important. I like to think that no one has bad intentions when sharing their feelings because it is just that…feelings.

What I find interesting is that the questionnaire shows the equality in both emotions, which makes a profound statement about us as a people. It’s almost like a balance between good and evil, right and wrong.

Unfortunately, I like to think that both emotions are necessary. One can serve as a nurturing blessing that enables us to be care for and adored and cherished. While the other can serve as a defense mechanism to protect us both mentally and physically. One can be said to be the emotion, the first connection between mother and child, brother and sister, man and woman. The other as a reaction to a hurt, a loss, a negative action, mental revenge. Love is beautiful and Hate is ugly. I would like everyone to think about that distinction for a moment. Please keep in mind that I am not saying that there are not reasons for hate in our world but we should make efforts to minimizing them. I am not saying love those who hurt you. There is a third option for that, it’s called indifference.

Let us hope that one day, in our own perfect world that only one of these emotions would be needed.