Unconditional acceptance can be a wonderful gift in relationships. One of the most common responses to “What are you looking for in a relationship?” is “someone who will just accept me for who I am.”

There’s a lot to be said for acceptance. Having someone acknowledge and embrace your flaws, imperfections, and differences can be empowering. But it can also be intoxicating.

The euphoria that comes from being unconditionally accepted can lead you to tolerate self-sabotaging behaviors, especially wh...