Margaret Paul, Ph.D.
"God doesn't love me because I don't deserve to be loved."
I hear this frequently from my clients. I ask them, "Have you ever known a baby who didn't deserve to be loved?"
They invariably answer, "No. All babies deserve to be loved."
"Why?" I ask them. "What did they do to deserve love?"
"They don't have to do anything. They deserve love because they exist."
Exactly!
The sad thing is that many children are not loved just because they exist. Instead, they have to perform to receive "love," which isn't love at all, since it is conditional, based on their being a certain way, such as being obedient or getting good grades. If they behave "right," then they earn approval, which they learn to confuse with love.
Full Article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/margaret-paul-phd/love-and-relationships_b_3750516.html
