emember when you stood at the altar, gazing into the face of your beloved? You looked into their eyes and felt the feeling that comes from loving someone with all your heart and being loved back. You believed you’d found the one who’d strive to make you happy and never do anything to hurt you.

How long did it take before you were disappointed? The first time they shouted at you, when they rejected you in bed, when they no longer seemed interested in what you had to say? Eventually discussions about the kids, and the car, and the bills replaced passionate conversations that lasted all night. And one day you turned to the person sitting next to you and realised you had nothing left to say. Your dream of perfect love was shattered and you thought you’d never find it again.

We carry within us a heart bruised by a lifetime of hurts, and when we find the relationship we think will repair it we are once again filled with hope. And when we fall in love we’re sure that we’ve finally found the place where we will be loved perfectly.

Unfortunately, while we are all able to love completely, none of us is able to love perfectly. We have our own internal confusions. We battle with life and all its mundane and serious complications. We all struggle with doubts and fears that lead to withholding our love. Sometimes we shout when we’d rather cry, sometimes we are too caught up with our own worries to notice the other person.

If you want to find love again you’ll have to forgive your partner for not meeting your expectations.