As a Houston relationship counselor, I know that it’s easy to love your partner when everything is going well… but much harder to love when you’re struggling through family or marriage problems. Unfortunately, the times when things are going badly are the times that your partner needs your love and support the most, and it’s during these times that you need to love unconditionally.
What Is Unconditional Love, Really? Houston Relationship Counselor Explains
You’ve probably heard the phrase “unconditional love” and have some understanding of what it means, but what does it look like in practice? When you love someone unconditionally, you give them your love without expecting anything in return.
This can be difficult if you and your partner are working through marriage problems, and your partner isn’t as warm and open with you as he or she once was. If your partner’s behavior has made you feel good in the past but isn’t anymore, it can be all too easy to change your own behavior and become withdrawn and distant as well. The important thing to remember is that if you love someone unconditionally, you can’t just love their best qualities. You have to love them as a whole person.
In my work as a Houston relationship counselor, I see a lot of couples who are struggling to love their partner in this “whole” way because their marriage problems are causing emotional pain. Unconditional love means doing what you can to help a partner who is suffering emotionally, even if you are suffering as well. Your support and acceptance is the best thing that you can give your partner during times of strife. Even if you feel that your partner is the one who has wronged you, offering them genuine forgiveness is a way to show that you love them unconditionally.
Unconditional Love Takes Work
Of course, it can be difficult to let go of resentment when you feel like your trust has been betrayed, and in this kind of situation, it’s important to dialogue with your partner about your feelings because you can’t love unconditionally when you’re holding on to negative feelings. If you need help figuring out how to start this kind of conversation, a Houston relationship counselor can help you and your partner. If you and your partner can use therapy to learn how to love each other fully, you’ll be building the foundations of a lasting relationship.
