Unconditional love is so vastly different from the love we are used to receiving that most of us don’t really know what it is.
In fact, most “love” these days isn’t actually true love, but instead differing forms of infatuation, lust, affinity, affection, codependency or egotistical neediness.
The reality is that true love is rare and immensely precious. The moment you experience true unconditional love is the moment you feel completely seen, understood, forgiven, accepted, and loved just as you are.
Spiritual Wanderer Course:
Being a lone wolf and a spiritual wanderer is a sacred calling in life – a unique and alchemical path of awakening. You don’t need to feel lost, alone, or stuck on your journey any more. It’s time to meet your soul’s deep needs for clarity, self-acceptance, and empowerment. Let us show you how …
This feeling is the most embracing and liberating sensation you will ever experience.
Indeed, unconditional love is the most healing force in the universe. Yet unfortunately, we are so starved from experiencing it regularly in our daily lives that we become emotionally and spiritually ill. One of the saddest sights you will ever see is a being who has been completely deprived of unconditional love – and we have all experienced it at some point.
But you don’t need to stay malnourished any longer. As we’ll explore, unconditional love is open for you to access in any moment, no matter where you are, or what you’re doing.
What is Unconditional Love?
Unconditional love is not so much about how we receive and endure each other, as it is about the deep vow to never, under any condition, stop bringing the flawed truth of who we are to each other.
– Mark Nepo
Unconditional love essentially means loving someone or something without any conditions.
In other words, no matter what another person says, does, feels, thinks or believes in, we still love them unconditionally.
Unconditional love can also be applied to other beings such as animals and even emotions and thoughts. But perhaps most importantly, unconditional love can be applied directly to ourselves in the form of self-love.
The more we are able to love ourselves unconditionally, the more we are equipped to love others in the same way.
Shadow & Light Membership:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ "Receiving these messages is a beacon of light and hope for me in currently very challenging times. The words of wisdom speak right to my soul, guiding and encouraging me further on my path. I highly recommend Shadow & Light to everyone who seeks to develop and cultivate a relationship with the Inner Self." – Karin
This principle echoes the famous words of Jesus, “Love your neighbor as yourself” and other enlightened masters such as Lao Tzu who said, “When you accept yourself, the whole world accepts you.”
What is Conditional Love?
Conditional love is the complete opposite of unconditional love. In fact, conditional love isn’t really “love” in the truest sense of the word, because it comes from the ego, not from the heart.
Unlike unconditional love which is given freely, conditional love has to be “earned.” When this false form of love is earned, only then is affection, respect, and kindness given.
While unconditional love is limitless and boundless, conditional love is restricted and limited. While unconditional love doesn’t need anything from the other, conditional love is given only when something is received.
The equation looks like this:
I will love you only if ………. (you do this, say that, provide this, make me feel this way).
Conditional love is inherently selfish and ego-centered. Conditional love only lasts so long as certain unspoken rules are maintained or met. Some of the most common unspoken rules that underpin conditional love include:
- I will love you only if you make me feel good about myself.
- I will love you only if you maintain your attractive looks.
- I will love you only if you are successful and popular.
- I will love you only if you have a good career.
- I will love you only if you do what I say.
- I will love you only if you believe what I believe.
- I will love you only if you keep supporting my bad habits.
- I will love you only if you keep giving me money.
- I will love you only if you are great in bed.
- I will love you only if I have control over you.
- I will love you only if I approve of your life decisions.
- I will love you only if you behave properly.
- I will love you only if you sacrifice something for me.
- I will love you only if you abandon your dreams.
- I will love you only if you love me.
Can you see how conditional love is a recipe for failure and absolute misery?
And yes, relationships with your partner, children, family, friends, and parents can all be underpinned by conditional love.
So many of us have experienced these kinds of shallow relationships. Let’s face it, at some point in our lives (maybe even right now), we’ve dished out conditional love to other people too.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this article to you, so you can come back to it later!
Your information will never be shared.
Why We Desperately Need Unconditional Love
Unconditional love is at the very heart of what we are searching for as human beings. Studies have shown that without love and affections, infants either develop severe cognitive and psychological dysfunction or die.
Not only is unconditional love necessary for our physical, emotional, and psychological health, but it is vital for our spiritual well being as well. Without knowing how to access the deep wellsprings of love within us, we settle for tainted forms of affection and egotistical gratification.
The sad thing is that most people aren’t even aware that they carry a source of unconditional love within themselves. We tend to believe that love is always found in the external world, in some person, animal, place, or state of being.
It is imperative that we learn how to access unconditional love, because, without it, we wither away. Like plants that don’t receive sunlight, we become sickly, starved, and even desperate. This desperation can lead us to enter relationships that directly harm us, sacrificing our dreams for others, and self-sabotaging our happiness for approval.
Unconditional love is the only thing in the entire universe that can truly help us to experience the joy, freedom, acceptance, and peace we are so longing for.
How to Experience Unconditional Love
Unconditional love doesn’t have to be earned or proven. It is timeless and endless.
If you want to learn how to experience unconditional love (as much as is possible for humans), you have to be willing to rewire your conditioned habits.
Here are some powerful ways to practice experiencing unconditional love towards yourself, and others:
1. Whenever you experience an emotion you dislike, embrace it, don’t push it away
We are taught to avoid and suppress “negative” emotions at all costs since childhood. Yet hiding these emotions only causes them to build in the Shadow Self. Practice accepting the way you feel instead of fighting to stop the emotion or artificially forcing yourself to be happy. Honor your emotions for what they are and the messages they bring.
2. Practice mindfulness and connect to your body
How is your body feeling? Are you feeling sore, tired, stiff, tense or heavy in any areas? Practice mindfully observing these sensations without judgment. Breathe deeply and allow yourself to relax as you do this. By witnessing your body, and allowing anything that you feel, you will access deeper levels of inner peace.
3. Embrace your negative thoughts and habits
Remember, it is normal to struggle with negative thoughts and habits. The important thing to remember is that these thoughts and habits do not define you – you entertain them, but you don’t have to identify with them. Embrace your tendency to be negative, even self-hating. Even self-loathing is an opportunity to forgive and practice unconditional self-love.
4. Ask yourself, “Am I putting conditions on this relationship?”
Be honest. Does someone else’s behavior or beliefs stop you from loving them? It’s OK to feel anger and sadness towards another person, but withholding your love is a whole different story. What can you do to open your heart towards a person or group of people in your life?
5. Give something to someone without wanting anything in return
You can try this little practice every day. For example, you could give a compliment, do a favor for someone, let someone go in front of you in the queue or any other form of help that will brighten another’s day.
6. Become conscious of triggers that cause you to shut off
Triggers are wounds within us that have not yet healed. When poked, triggers cause us to react with anger, self-isolation, and even hatred. By paying attention to what “pushes your buttons” you will develop more self-awareness. The more self-aware you are, the more you can practice self-love and forgiveness of others.
7. Forgive others (and yourself) and set yourself free
Forgiveness is an act of self-liberation more than anything. You don’t forgive another for the sake of being a self-righteous saint, you forgive to release the burden of resentment from your heart. Think about all of the grudges you may be holding right now. What can you do to find peace through forgiveness? Keep in mind that it is healthy for you to also show self-forgiveness. Read more about practicing forgiveness if you need help.
Spiritual Awakening Bundle:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ "This was probably one of the best purchases I made in a long time … These are some of the most valuable texts I’ve ever read, and I'll never forget the path they started me on. Thank you so much for writing it and putting it out there for us to find." – Heloísa
8. Practice loving yourself and others exactly “as is”
Unconditional love means embracing all of the nice, nasty, and ugly things about yourself and others. Remember that no one is perfect nor can anyone ever be perfect. Life is a constant journey of growth. Don’t love others based on what they look like, have or do, love a person exactly as they are in the moment, simply because they are worthy of being loved. The same advice applies to you: embrace all the pain, woundedness, and imperfection within you. Love it without conditions.
***
What is unconditional love? It is absolute acceptance and openness to yourself and others; it is the most powerful force in the universe.
I hope you now have a clearer understanding of the meaning of unconditional love, and how to begin experiencing it in your life. If you have any suggestions, please share in the comments.
Three paths to inner transformation – here’s how I can help you go deeper:
1. The Spiritual Wanderer Course: Are you feeling lost, adrift, and unsure of your life's purpose? Gain clarity, focus, and direction on your inner path by uncovering the five archetypes of awakening within you. Learn how to navigate the highs and lows of your inner journey and chart your unique path with 3+ hours of audio-visual content, workbooks, meditations, and a premium test.
2. Shadow & Light Membership: Do you crave consistent support on your spiritual quest? Receive weekly intuitive guidance and learn to embrace your whole self, including your shadow side. Cultivate deeper self-love with our affordable, personalized support.
3. Spiritual Awakening Bundle: Ready to embark on a profound soul-searching adventure? Dive into our collection of essential transformative resources! Explore five illuminating eBooks and seven in-depth journals, plus unlock two special bonuses to empower your spiritual growth.
For the first time in my life, I have experienced what loving someone unconditionally feels like. It is an awesome, overpowering, joyful feeling. I love him unconditionally; he is my twin flame. I only want him to be happy.
I believe that parents feel unconditional love for their children; I wouldn’t know first-hand.
The love I feel for this individual transcends reason. I ask nothing in return.
He does not feel the same about me, to my knowledge. We are twin flames. It’s the most intense, beautiful energy I have ever felt.
Unconditional acceptance and love for myself and people of my gave me access to be vulnerable with them. I have more freedom and openness to share my feelings, thoughts and emotions. I feel deeply connected with them. I can touch their hearts. Leaving a long-lasting impression of Love, it will inspiring them towards the journey of unconditional love for self as well as others. Thank you Lonerwolf for your unconditional food for soul like me and others.
I have never experienced true love. So when I’m in a relationship and they tell me they love me. I began to question the whole meaning of love.. Then I pull away. Or make a beline for the door. I can’t tell you how many relatioships I’ve messed up.I don’t understand what is going on on. Do i have a problem or do I not underdtand unconditional love?
Does unconditional love mean loving someone if they cheat on you?
My question is What difference does any of this make…what difference does embracing negative emotions make?…what difference does forgiving somebody make?…what difference does doing something for somebody without expecting something in return make…nothing makes any difference at all.
My only response to this article is give more hugs!
Sadly, there’s TOO MUCH HATE in the world… racism, sexism… Syria… too much hate to this article take effect, but, publishing goods like this is the first step, keep your great work, Luna & Sol, everyone deserve forgiveness & love, ^^!
Tell me, guys… could you silence my voices… BLAMING ME, even if i did nothing?
What can I do when someone that I love or is very close to me mistreats me? How do one reacts in a situation like this?
Struggle with this everyday. And this is also sychronicity as I am getting ready to embark on a divorce and my intention is to approach it lovingly and in complete acceptance of whom my husband is.
Striving to love myself enough to accept that I AM the cause of his upcoming pain and angst, at least this portion of it.
Striving to love him even if he attacks out of the pain in his own soul.
Funny thing, until I began forcing myself to acknowledge him with gratitude, even though our reality is a emotional nightmare for me, I couldn’t love him enough to plan to leave him.
I pray he eventually understands. Unconditional love is loving someone as they are.
He is exactly who he is, as am I. Our energy does not amplify the other’s, as a true sacred union would, it depletes.
We’ve tried for 13 years to make the unworkable work, it is finally time to let it go.
I love us both enough to do so.
Even if one of us doesn’t understand, I’m holding this split in love.