The way I see it, your not tying your love to any conditions is a choice. Many people don't make it. They place demands on their partner, for example, and when the partner doesn't meet them, they leave. I bet there are instances where it feels "choiceless" or at least effortless, if only for a time, but in a lifelong relationship, never having to make the choice to give unconditional love again is probably super rare, no? What do you think?
I think I understand your perspective. Mine is different. My starting point may be that there is no "unconditional" love. There is either love or its absence. Adding "unconditional" to love is not just redundant or additive. It is conditional. The love I'm talking about is timeless. It is not a choice. It just is.
Wow! That was a humdinger, Nik! Very powerful message about the gift of selfless and unconditional love! I’m glad that you had such amazing friends to get you through those dark times and a Saint for a Mom who chose to love you unconditionally every time! Who wouldn’t! 😊
Nik, this blog really hits home. You're right—love is something we continually decide to give, despite the challenges. "Love doesn't have to be perfect to matter": it’s raw, real, and so human. Thanks for sharing this perspective!
It truly does! Good observation about dogs. That's a good factor too. The ease. Can we learn to give love unconditionally more easily again as well? I think we can!
I used to think that "unconditional love" required me to wear rose colored glasses and always see the best in everyone, even when they are showing me the worst. In recent years, I've come to feel unconditional love as not an act, but a state of being. Not as seeing of things are good or bad or right or wrong, but rather CHOOSING (to use Nik's word) to ACCEPT people and "things" just as they are. No judgment, no expectations, no assessments. Just is-ness.
How can love be unconditional if it's a choice? Could love be "choiceless?" Or merely the absence of choice?
The way I see it, your not tying your love to any conditions is a choice. Many people don't make it. They place demands on their partner, for example, and when the partner doesn't meet them, they leave. I bet there are instances where it feels "choiceless" or at least effortless, if only for a time, but in a lifelong relationship, never having to make the choice to give unconditional love again is probably super rare, no? What do you think?
I think I understand your perspective. Mine is different. My starting point may be that there is no "unconditional" love. There is either love or its absence. Adding "unconditional" to love is not just redundant or additive. It is conditional. The love I'm talking about is timeless. It is not a choice. It just is.
Ahh, I see, taking an Eastern philosophy approach to it. I like it! There is only love or no love. I will think about this. Thank you!
You're welcome. I appreciate your thought-provoking posts. Your regular posts often provoke learning and clarifying my perspective.
Thank you! I know they're rarely perfect, but I just try to put something interesting out there every day :)
Mission accomplished!
“You don’t have to be enlightened to love. You can do it imperfectly.”
I think love is the path to enlightenment. Or maybe love is enlightenment. Every time we love, we are enlightened in that moment.
I like this! Every little bit counts, basically!
Wow! That was a humdinger, Nik! Very powerful message about the gift of selfless and unconditional love! I’m glad that you had such amazing friends to get you through those dark times and a Saint for a Mom who chose to love you unconditionally every time! Who wouldn’t! 😊
Thank you! Yeah, it was a great and much needed heaping of help!
Nik, this blog really hits home. You're right—love is something we continually decide to give, despite the challenges. "Love doesn't have to be perfect to matter": it’s raw, real, and so human. Thanks for sharing this perspective!
Wow, Nik, that is a doozy of a post.
Unconditional love, even temporarily is the toughest form ofcaffection to give.
It's a gift, a priceless one.
Dogs are much better at giving it than humans.
Most dogs give it easily, humans not so much.
I am so glad you were the recipient of love without judgement and conditions put on it.
You might not be around now if it wasn't.
Glad you survived.
It just goes to show, love changes everything.
It truly does! Good observation about dogs. That's a good factor too. The ease. Can we learn to give love unconditionally more easily again as well? I think we can!
I used to think that "unconditional love" required me to wear rose colored glasses and always see the best in everyone, even when they are showing me the worst. In recent years, I've come to feel unconditional love as not an act, but a state of being. Not as seeing of things are good or bad or right or wrong, but rather CHOOSING (to use Nik's word) to ACCEPT people and "things" just as they are. No judgment, no expectations, no assessments. Just is-ness.