Unconditional LOVE
Simply said, unconditional love is love with no strings attached. It's love you freely give. You do not base your decision on what someone does for you in return. You simply adore them and want nothing more than for them to be happy. This form of love, also known as compassionate or agape love, may seem familiar. Perhaps it reminds you of your parents' affection for you or the love you feel for your own child. While many people equate unconditional love with familial affection, many people want similar love in romantic relationships as well. It's natural to want someone to adore you for who you are, no matter what. However, this form of love may still appear to be the stuff of fairy tales and movies, rather than something most people meet in real life. Is love as elusive as it appears? Is it even possible in love relationships? Continue reading to learn more about what unconditional love is (and isn't) and how to cultivate it. Unconditional love is an act of selflessness. You're not in it for the money. Though it shares certain characteristics with other types of love, it is distinguished by others. These important qualities help you identify it. In both childhood and adulthood, unconditional love can create a sense of security. Feeling safe in someone's affection and knowing it will not fade can aid in the development of stable attachments as well as autonomy, independence, and self-worth. If you know your parents or caregivers will still love you even if you make mistakes or do things they don't approve of — from failing a class to drinking at a party when you're underage — you'll feel more at ease making your own decisions and learning from them as you go. In the context of friendship, unconditional love may withstand testing such as conflict, drifting apart, or diverging life goals. When it comes to romantic relationships, unconditional love may imply that love persists in the face of adversity, such as life-altering health issues or changes in appearance or personality. People aren't perfect, and almost everyone makes a few bad decisions. However, unconditional love necessitates unconditional acceptance. As a result, you forgive mistakes and continue to offer love and compassion, even if their decisions distress you or cause pain. You can't love someone unconditionally unless your feelings remain constant in the face of their behavior. However, you can love someone unconditionally even if you don't have a connection with them. Acceptance can also entail recognizing when someone is unlikely to change and taking steps to safeguard your own well-being. What love isn’t is confusion and misunderstandings about the true nature of unconditional love may lead one to believe that this form of love represents dysfunctional or destructive relationship dynamics. There is a significant difference between showing compassion and forgiveness and continuing to accept damaging actions. It is equally critical to recognize that you can love someone unconditionally while not remaining with them unconditionally. To clarify further, here is what unconditional love does not imply.