Unconditional partnerships exist when both individuals appreciate and support one other without expecting anything in return. People in conditional relationships never learn to view others for anything other than the benefits they bring. They expect favors to be returned, especially if something is demanded of them. The strength of an unconditional relationship is that it can withstand many things--including a lack of communication between the partners. If one partner does not feel loved by the other, they are free to leave at any time. An unconditional relationship cannot be forced; it must be chosen with care and awareness. People enter into conditional relationships for various reasons. Most often, it is because neither party wants to risk losing something by being completely open with one another. Conditional relationships are usually based on expectations or assumptions about how someone else feels or thinks. In most cases, people need to experience loss in order to realize the value of something lasting and permanent. Without loss, there can be no gain and no advancement toward a more complete understanding of oneself or one's world. Losing something leads to learning new lessons, which enables us to grow as individuals. Losing something means failing at some task or goal. This is why people who are in conditional relationships tend to move away from each other as soon as anything starts to get difficult.