Unconditional love, does it really exist? The group Hi-5 made me believe it does. The real question I had to ask myself, “does it exist within me?” We often question the other person and their level of love, but how often do we gaze into the abyss, and find the abyss staring back at us? Perhaps it is us, that has truly conditional love for our mate. Think about it. Have you ever stopped talking to someone over something petty, or superficial? Did you withhold love because they weren’t doing things you felt they should do?

The threads of love are often considered weak when conditions are placed on them.

Unconditional Love

Unconditional love is known as affection without any limitations, or love without conditions. This term is sometimes associated with other terms such as true altruism or complete love. Each area of expertise has a certain way of describing unconditional love, but most will agree that it is that type of love that has no bounds and is unchanging. It is a concept comparable to true love, a term that is generally used to describe the love between lovers.

According to the book Real Love, unconditional love is, in essence, true love.

Now look back on the love someone gave to you, and the love you gave to them. Ask yourself, has this love truly been unconditional? Or, are you placing conditions? I am a firm believer that love is limitless. The human element places restrictions, and conditions on it. Holding-back, fear, hesitation, resistance, denial of love, withholding love, are all examples of conditional love.

Other Thoughts on Unconditional Love

Lisa Pool of MindBodyGreen states that:

It is not unconditional love when other people like us for doing what they want or because we give them what they demand of us. Under those conditions we’re just “paying” for love in a way (or literally in some cases) with what we do to get that attention. We can be certain that we’re receiving unconditional love only when we make foolish mistakes, when we fail to do what other people want, and even when we get in their way, but they don’t feel disappointed or irritated with us. When we make a seemingly poor choice about our lives, take a wrong turn, undo or sabotage our own happiness… its unconditional love that keeps them right there, not judging or punishing but loving without conditions.

I disagree with the idea that a person won’t be “disappointed or annoyed with us” when it comes to unconditional love. The human element is always present, so that means emotions will occur. Disappointment and irritation are emotions that will temporarily inhibit our vision. However, they won’t block the big picture.

Love Must Pass The Test

Like Lisa stated,

When we make a wrong turn, undo, or sabotage o

ur own happiness… its unconditional love that keeps them right there, not judging or punishing but loving without conditions.

I told someone really close to me that I wouldn’t marry any woman unless we had been through some adversity. Relationships are full of challenges, changes, and obstacles that you may not see coming. Will your version of love persevere? A “battle-tested” love that still exists, and persists to maintain itself, is a love I need. It is a love I need.

Conditional love will fade like the ending credits in a movie. The moment the proverbial shit hits the fan, there they go… off to the races.

I’d even surmise that one of the major causalities to divorce is conditional love.