Tough love is when you persost in loving someone despite the difficulties in doing so. What people call “tough love” these days is just abrasiveness disguised as care, and that shift was caused by narcissistic sociopaths who characterize the harm they do to others as for their own good.
I really enjoy your framing of “tough love” versus the generally accepted definition. I do see room for both definitions, but ideally only if the no-nonsense approach to feedback for a loved one is underscored in the way you mention.
Tough love is when you persost in loving someone despite the difficulties in doing so. What people call “tough love” these days is just abrasiveness disguised as care, and that shift was caused by narcissistic sociopaths who characterize the harm they do to others as for their own good.
Thanks for the correction on terminology. I’ll try to keep that in mind.
I really enjoy your framing of “tough love” versus the generally accepted definition. I do see room for both definitions, but ideally only if the no-nonsense approach to feedback for a loved one is underscored in the way you mention.