Beautiful, Dangerous Love

I read a quote recently that said, “Show me all the parts of you that you do not love so I know where to begin.”  

Two thoughts immediately popped into my mind:  

#1 - How beautiful!  

#2 - How dangerous!  

Is it really possible to show another person the parts of you that you do not love - and them not walk away?  

Because, I am discovering more and more often - people do not actually love you, they love their perceived image of you, or their self projected future version of you—and when either of those are disrupted by the reality of who you are—they walk away.  

There are very few people with whom you can be fully known and fully loved - which is why I think so many people hold back, because they know if they don’t love the real version of themselves…there’s no way someone else will.  

When we feel like we have to hide who we are…

…or we feel like we have to be someone other than who we really are just to gain acceptance, that isn’t love - it’s a performance…

…and all performances, no matter how great they are, come to an end.  

Successful relationships (of any kind) are built on transparency, forgiveness and empathy.  If just one of the three are missing there will be problems…

…however…

…when all three are present success is inevitable because love is unconditional.