Great article, and fun to read. Sadly, it could also have been summed up with, “Work on developing and strengthening your ability and tolerance for authenticity, vulnerability, empathy; because with EQ, everything starts coming into focus and you’re able to discern better and make healthier choices.”
Without these things, I’ll go out on a limb and say no love felt for another person is actually love at all. At best, it’s what you’re projecting on to your relationship, attempting to fill in gaps in love and support that are there (i.e., hearing what he actually said: he doesn’t care you are hurt, and your feelings aren’t important to him; as opposed to what you want to hear to hold on to him: he struggles to understand your pain, due to his early trauma in life, but he prioritizes you and is taking steps now to learn how to be loving and supportive of you and to work together to figure this out).
At worst, love without emotional intelligence is user/using behavior — you’re there solely for what you get out of it. And, manipulation on any level is not conducive to personal success. It a narcissistic behavior, which can’t work in authentic emotional connection.
