I went through a recent awakening where I realized that something very important has been missing throughout my entire life. And it seems that there are so many others that are afflicted by this very same void in our culture. That something is the feeling of being validated or loved unconditionally.
My parents worked hard to provide for all material needs growing up – a safe home and environment to grow up in, food, toys, etc. Verbally, I was told that I was loved unconditionally, yet I was confused when I experienced that the love I received was ultimately conditioned by performance. Getting good grades, doing household chores, acting according to how my parents wanted me to act and, as I was reaching the age of adulthood, working hard and making sacrifices so that I could have an even more materially prosperous future.
