You care. And, of course, you’ve done your best. You’ve been understanding and kind. You’ve loaned advice and offered help. But none of it has worked. So now, all that’s left, is to play your trump card…,
tough love.
Whoa there, sport! Before you get all self-righteous, draw your line in the sand, and launch the “good” fight, maybe take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself a few tough questions.
Did you do your best, or only what was expedient? Was it understanding and kindness on offer or perhaps just enabling? Was it advice and help on loan, or simply lip service?
And please, tell me there was no shaming.
Tough Love Vs. Real Love
Tough love isn’t love at all. It’s a cop-out for those unwilling to invest the emotional labor required for real love. “Getting tough” means turning off your capacity for loving and caring in order to get results you think are best.
Sure, you’re earnest in your desire to assist, but you’re not invested. You may be empathetic, but empathy is not enough. If you truly love someone in distress, you must be compassionate. And you must commit.
Real love requires that you have enough self-awareness to recognize when you’re out of your depth. Are you sure you know what’s best? Are you the best choice as advisor or therapist? Or is it time for an objective and qualified opinion or intervention?
Let’s Get Real
Real love is never stingy or tough. Real love is always generous and vulnerable. Real love is never selfish or self-serving, it’s selfless and of service. It’s time to get real about what “tough love” is and is not.
About the Author
Scott Perry is a vintage blues guitarist, teacher, and author of The Stoic Creative Handbook. Learn more about Scott’s work and delivering work that matters to those that need it in his free report: How Creatives Flip Fear & Flourish.