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Tag: MindBodyGreen

2019 Wellbeing

This Is How Women Get Stranded In Unhappy Relationships

9 min read

March 18, 2019 at 03:13AM Beware “unconditional devotion.” Continue Reading… The idea of “unconditional devotion” is in many ways a beautiful one—and one I’ve personally bought into for most of my life and still somewhat align myself with today. To love someone without conditions, without prerequisites, without concern for what they give you in return, and in spite of all their faults, flaws, mistakes, and hurtful altercations to come. It’s the stuff our entire Western conceptualization of love is based around these days, as well as the movie narratives featuring grandiose displays of passion and sacrifice. But for all the beauty and intimacy that can come from forging a bond based on unconditional devotion, that type of commitment can also be what keeps people trapped in otherwise unhappy relationships—particularly women. How women get stranded in relationships that no longer serve them. When you’ve committed to loving your partner no matter what they do, it makes it easy and acceptable to put up with unsavory behavior even when it goes too far—or to go along with an unsatisfying relationship that may not hurt but still drains, numbs, or simply doesn’t quite feel right. Women, in particular, receive tacit encouragement to make their relationships work, even those that are flawed, harmful, or simply not serving them. This happens in two specific ways: Women have been taught to prioritize having successful relationships. In most cultures, women are raised to place more importance on having successful relationships than men are. It’s the reason every

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