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[ Page 1 of 2 | print friendly version ]Love Them As They Are
How to Love Unconditionally
We all crave unconditional love. That’s what Gloria Steinem, a leading feminist, shared in her book, Moving Beyond Words. It took her years to figure out what was missing from her life. She wrote, “The need for supporting core self-esteem doesn’t end in childhood. Adults still need unconditional love from family, friends, life partners, animals, and perhaps even an all-forgiving deity. ‘No matter how the world may judge you, I love you for yourself.’”
But what is unconditional love? It’s the care of a newborn baby as her parents awake night after night. It’s the offer of shelter to a homeless person. It’s the tail wagging on your dog. Our dog provided no household help, required regular walks, was fed and loved for just being. Sure, she was reprimanded for her “accidents”, but her unique lovableness was never questioned. Regrettably, many people, including children, are not given the same message of irreplaceable value.
To love unconditionally is to give love for no other reason than this person, this being, this child of yours, is believed to be lovable.
Now we’ve moved into a psychological, maybe spiritual realm. Bear with me. The basic premise is that all beings are lovable and valuable. Yes, even those who break the law. I’ve written about that in my book, Love Her As She Is. Loving as is provides the underpinning concept.
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