Unconditional love is often seen as the purest form of love—one that exists without expectations, conditions, or limits. It is love that remains steadfast through hardships, mistakes, and change. However, unconditional love does not mean unconditional self-sacrifice.

Loving someone deeply does not require losing yourself in the process. True love should never come at the cost of your well-being, values, or sense of self. Love, even at its most unconditional, must be balanced with self-respect. If a love demands that you continuously give without receiving, that you endure pain without boundaries, or that you shrink yourself to make someone else comfortable, then it is not love—it is self-abandonment.

Healthy love allows for individuality, growth, and mutual care. It recognizes that while love may be boundless, people are not. Loving unconditionally does not mean tolerating harm or neglecting your own needs. Real love is not about losing yourself in another but about growing together while still holding onto who you are.