“Love necessitates sacrifice.” It’s the kind of relationship advice you’ll hear in power ballads, see embroidered on throw pillows, and read on Pinterest.
Here’s one perspective: Love necessitates sacrifice on occasion. But, on the whole, love is more of a compromise than a sacrifice. It doesn’t matter how compatible two people are or how much they have in common; they’ll never agree 100 percent all of the time. They may agree 99.9% of the time, but there will always be disagreements. Life does not always go as planned. Things happen that are beyond your control. When you disagree or reach a cosmic speed bump, you’ll need to make concessions and compromises. In its most literal interpretation, the expression “love is sacrifice” implies that if you want to remain with the one you love, you must give up something. That is undoubtedly true at times. If your partner’s parent becomes unwell, they may choose to return home to care for them or have them move in with you. While it is a difficult sacrifice to make, it is one that benefits your spouse and your relationship.
Love, on the other hand, does not necessarily have to be a sacrifice. You have the right to say no or even walk away if your partner’s actions suggest that you should put your mental health, emotional well-being, integrity, or safety at risk.
