Love is Not Domination, It is Cultivation

Encouragement Today

D28C84E0-D1DE-4E6F-AB18-44B22F8725B7Love is meant to nurture others not to dominate them.

To love someone means to…

  • Help them when you see them struggling.
  • Give them a secure place where judgement is withheld.
  • Support their ideas and encouragement them to go beyond their limitations.
  • Hold their hand when they think everyone is against them.
  • Show them unconditional trust so they know you will have their back when everyone else has left them.
  • Protect them as best as you can against forces that strike against them whether by society, people, organizations, and/or jobs.
  • Show them empathy when no one else understand them.
  • Lastly, love them unconditionally!

This is is by no means an extensive list, but it is enough to cause you to think about your own.

Many of these may be out of your control or power, but I can assure you, if your loved one knows you are trying to do things, they will feel your love.

Did you notice what I did as I looked back over these? Each begins with an action verb. This spoke volumes to me.

To love someone means to be continually performing an action for them and requires continuous work. Do not sit idle and assume they feel your love. You will find if you do, your loved one will begin to feel cold against you and your love will dwindle down to nothing over time.

Loving someone shouldn’t feel like work. You should want to be there and do things for this person. If you are showing them the love you have for them, they will feel compelled to do the same for you. Then you will see the results of a healthy relationship.

“Love does not dominate; it cultivates.”
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

My friend, cultivate your relationship. Do not dominate it. 

Domination over anyone does not contribute positively to any relationship you have let alone for the person you love.

Love unconditionally and you will be amazed at how sweet your relationship will be as long as they do the same thing in return.

Do not sit idle my friend, give your loved one the attention they deserve for you to love them.