Relationships – Why (Romantic) Love is Not Enough

Feb 20, 2024 | 6:00 p.m., Mountain Time

When we fall in love, we often believe that these intense feelings will last forever. This notion is deeply ingrained in our culture and is reminiscent of fairy tales where the prince and princess live happily ever after. The fairy tale narrative suggests that there is a perfect match for everyone, and finding this person leads to a life of endless happiness and harmony.

However, this idealized version of romantic love is more of a myth than reality. It may be a necessary fiction, a trick mother nature plays on us to promote the continuation of our species by encouraging marriage through the alluring but temporary experience of falling in love. But as a men’s coach who has seen the impacts of this myth, I am concerned about the confusion and distress it causes. Many people invest a lot of effort in trying to make their real-life experiences match this unrealistic ideal, often leading to disappointment and unhappiness instead of joy.

Over the next few weeks, we will have frank discussions about sensitive topics such as sex, abuse, infidelity, mental health, and trauma. Be prepared.

In the end, it may all come down to this: love is just an experience. It can be an amazing experience, but we cannot cling to it or let it consume us.

We cannot sacrifice our identities or self-worth for it, because the moment we do that, we lose ourselves. And without ourselves, there is no one left to love or to be loved. The truth is, we need more in life than just love.

Love is wonderful, necessary, and beautiful, but it is not enough.