Love is great. Love can be healing. It can be blind. It can be many things, but it can also be a ball of huge lies! You know, those romantic lies we’ve all swallowed after binge-watching too many Turkish series or listening to our teta’s “back in my day” stories.
The classics: “Love conquers all,” “Jealousy means they care,” or Egypt’s personal favorite, using fate as an excuse to put zero effort into your relationship.
These myths are basically the relationship equivalent of thinking you can survive on coffee alone. Sounds great in theory, but you’ll crash eventually.
Let’s break down these love myths, the way only Egyptian millennials can. Here’s the first one:
“Love Conquers All”
The Myth: If you love someone enough, you can fix everything. Even if he refuses to help with wedding planning, never visits your family, and thinks emotional support means sending you Reels.
The Reality: Love is important, but it’s not a cure-all. If you’re constantly fighting about money, values, or how to load the dishwasher, love alone won’t fix it, and definitely won’t pay the bills or teach him the real meaning behind “I’m fine.”
Real Talk: Love is like the foundation of a building. Crucial, but useless without walls, plumbing, and WiFi. You need communication, respect, and someone who actually shows up when life gets messy.
“If They’re Jealous, They Love You”
The Myth: A little jealousy is cute! It shows they care when they question why you liked your male colleague’s LinkedIn post.
The Reality: Jealousy isn’t love; it’s insecurity wrapped in bad vibes. Healthy relationships are built on trust, not paranoia over who liked your Instagram story.
Take a moment to reflect: How does jealousy manifest in your own life or relationships? Do you find yourself feeling uneasy when your partner engages with others?
Before declaring a verdict, consider whether those feelings are rooted in genuine concern or simply apprehension. If they’re stalking your Instagram stories to see who viewed them before they did, that’s not romantic. That’s exhausting.
What You Actually Deserve: Someone secure enough to let you have male friends without turning it into a 3AM interrogation. Someone who trusts you even when you’re laughing at Amr’s jokes in the group chat.
“Fighting Shows You’re Passionate”
The Myth: If you’re not dramatically arguing like you’re auditioning for a Yousra film, do you even loves each other?
The Reality: Disagreements happen, but constant fighting isn’t a sign of passion; it’s a sign you’re not communicating well, or even at all.
There’s a difference between healthy disagreements and whatever toxic cycle you’ve convinced yourself is “passionate love.”
The Difference: Healthy couples fight about solutions. Toxic couples fight to win. One ends with a plan; the other ends with someone sleeping on the couch and a story you’ll overshare at girls’ night.
“They’ll Change for Me”
The Myth: If they really love you, they’ll automatically transform into the person you need. He’ll become more social, start caring about your interests, and magically develop emotional intelligence.
The Reality: You’re not a life coach, therapist, or miracle worker. People change when THEY want to change, not because you’ve perfected the art of passive-aggressive hints.
Hard Truth: Stop dating potential. If you can’t handle them exactly as they are right now (mama’s boy tendencies, terrible taste in music, and all), walk away. You’re looking for a partner, not a renovation project.
“If It’s Meant to Be, It’ll Happen”
The Myth: True love is effortless. If it’s meant to be, the universe will magically align your schedules, fix your communication issues, and make him remember your anniversary.
The Reality: Using fate as an excuse to not put in effort is like expecting to pass your finals without studying because “God will provide.” Sure, divine intervention is nice, but so is actually texting back within 24 hours.
Always remember: The universe isn’t your relationship coach. Love takes effort, communication, and sometimes, a little compromise. Waiting for fate to sort things out is just…lazy.
The universe gave you a brain and opposable thumbs. Use them to plan dates, have difficult conversations, and maybe remember that relationships require actual work.
Start small: schedule a weekly check-in with your partner to discuss any lingering issues or share something positive from your week. Consider setting aside one ‘date night’ each month where you both try something new together. And finally, understand the importance of active listening—focus on really hearing your partner before responding. These small actions can lay the foundation for a more connected and resilient relationship.
What Actually Matters
Real love isn’t about dramatic gestures or fate swooping in (though a surprise dinner is always nice). It’s about someone who texts you back, keeps their word, and never leaves you doubting your sanity every week.
It’s choosing each other on random Tuesday evenings, not just during Ramadan iftar moments when everything feels magical.
So next time someone tries to sell you these myths (whether it’s your married friend who thinks her toxic relationship is “passionate” or that aunt who insists you just need to “pray harder” for love), smile, nod, and remember: healthy love doesn’t require a manual, just two people who actually want to be there.
Your future self will thank you for having standards that go beyond “at least they’re not my ex.”
So, what love myth will you ditch first? Consider it, and let today mark the beginning of a new chapter where your relationships are founded on reality and genuine connection. Take a small step towards making love about what truly matters.
