Trading Love for Obligation

Feeling a sense of obligation results in stopping the emotional experience of love, though it doesn't mean love for the person ceases. Trading obligation for love occurs when one feels the need to choose between fulfilling an obligation and loving oneself or others. This pattern emerges as a strategy to regain love when feeling disconnected. Guilt and shame are closely linked to obligation, causing an emotional stagnation. Differentiating between feeling obligation and love in the present moment is crucial, as one cannot simultaneously feel obligation towards someone and genuinely love them.