Love Relationships That Last - Seven Tips to Cultivating Unconditional Love Relationships

By Eric Coggins

We all long for unconditional love and love that lasts through thick and thin. The kind of love that says I will always be by your side no matter the conditions or attitudes. But is it possible for one human being to truly love another human being unconditionally? This article discusses seven tips to cultivate a love relationship that knows no bounds; a love that lasts.

First, count all life forms as wonderful masterpieces. You must step back to see the whole picture and acknowledge that even the most miniscule and homely things have a reason for being. A deep appreciation for life itself will give you a solid base from which to love another human being unconditionally.

Second, formulate a right picture about yourself. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, good points and bad points. If you think too highly of yourself than you will never be able to appreciate the quirks in other people. Similarly, if you think too lowly of yourself, you will nitpick others for the same faults you have. You will never be able to accept them unconditionally because you cannot accept yourself as such. Have a right view of yourself and then you can have a right view of others and love them unconditionally.

Third, think like Picasso not like Rembrandt. Rembrandt painted the outward appearance, while Picasso recognized that there is more to life than meets the eye. When you are able to see another human being in their entirety, you will be able to see that they are masterpiece made by the hand of God. Each person is special and deserves our utmost admiration and respect.

 

Fourth, listen without judgment. From time to time, people need to blow off steam or verbalize wild ideas. Stephen Covey tells the story of a time when he was riding the subway in New York. At one certain stop a man got on the train with his kids. While the man stared off in a half-hypnotic trance, his kids were playing and bumping into other passengers. Covey began to become incensed as the kids wreaked havoc and the father did not step in to intervene. Finally, Covey leaned over and politely pointed out to the man how unruly his kids were being. At this, the father said, "Yeah I know; I guess it's because their mom just died." Sometimes it pays to ask questions before we pass judgment. When you take the time to listen intently and withhold your righteous indignation, then you will be in a position to see who people really and be able to draw closer to them.

Fifth, develop a sense of humor. Learn to laugh at the oddities in life and other people. Learn to laugh at yourself. When you have a deep sense of joy, you will be at peace with yourself and be able to accept the minor variations in another person's personality.

Sixth, learn to forgive. Conflict is a normal part of life. Learning how to handle conflict and how to forgive when others offend you, will allow you to release your heart and be free to love another beyond their faults. In the Christian Bible it says, "Love covers a multitude of sins." When you truly love someone unconditionally, you will overlook minor offenses and value the relationship over the need to be right or gain justice.

Seventh, generate an intimate relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Through a one-on-one relationship with God you will be filled with his Holy Spirit who will guide you and breed in you the ability to carry out the first six steps. God who created you to be the special person you are showed us a true example of unconditional love when he sacrificed His Son for us. He wants to fill you with the same power Jesus had to reach out to others and love them with unconditional love.

Unconditional is hard to find in this world. Many people love because... or if... Yet, we all long to be loved simply for who we are. This article has discussed seven tips to cultivating unconditional love in our lives.