Quote: This notion of "acceptance," or, "can you accept me exactly as I am," seems, to me, to present a real catch-22 to both parties. Let's take it from an HD perspective.
LD: Can't you accept me exactly as I am? (Translation: why do you not consider me lovable just as I am?)...
Corri
Here's another way that conversation can play out:
L: Why do I have to change? Why can't you just accept me for who I am?
H: I don't want to change you. I just want you to make love with me.
Then follow this up by singing the chorus to "I Love You Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel.
This keeps thing focused on behavior instead of identity. It also puts the ball in the other person's court. Maybe the LD person really has deep issues that he needs to explore, or a physiological problem that needs to be fixed. On the other hand, it might be something as simple as making a different choice at that particular moment.
SM
"If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment." Henry David Thoreau
