Is there a difference between love and unconditional love? Should there be a difference or should all love be unconditional?
There is no such thing as unconditional love. Even if you don't outright place a condition on it, there may be a circumstance that makes you stop loving that person. Even your children. Though, granted, those circumstances may be extreme, but they do exist. Imagine your child turns out to be a child rapist or a mass school shooter.
All love should be unconditional. Neither should one "" a lover. Now that doesn't mean that you close your eyes to everything. They're still responsible for their actions.
Yes. There is a difference. Conditional love means you have conditions for your love of someone else. And if they break any of those conditions, you can end your love for them. Any parent will tell you that they unconditionally love their children. Nothing the child can do can make you stop loving them (if you're a decent parent, that is.) They may grow to become the kind of human that you are disappointed with, or totally disgusted with their actions (such as if your child becomes a serial killer)...but you will still love them because they are your child. You may not agree with them and you may even fall out of contact with them and/or stop associating with them for whatever reason, but at the end of the day you are still going to love your offspring - even if it's on some unfamiliar or indescribable level.
I don't believe unconditional love is a healthy goal. It can mean remaining in an abusive relationship. Up to a point a person can be tolerated, but if the abuse continues and shows no potential for change the abusee shouldn't feel the need to stay for the sake of the abuser or for the idea of unconditional love. There is such a thing as too much love. I didn't think that possible until confronted with it.
I think there is. I unconditionally love my children and my parents. I don’t always like them but I cannot imagine a circumstance that would make me not love them.
Once upon a time I love my ex. Romantic love can ebb and flow and even diminish completely.
I agree with this statement. My kids do things that make me mad. But I could never see myself not loving them ever! Something I didn't understand till they were born. Relationship wise, well I don't put much into astrology but I am a scorpio. And as such I've been able to walk away and not look back. There have been instances in relationships where I've turned those feeling off like a light switch. And it says that's something we are capable of.
@Palacinky that’s a very good point. I guess I was just thinking of my own but you are absolutely correct.
I don't think there is any such thing as unconditional love. We may feel it's unconditional because it's so strong.