Well, you need to allow yourself to be vulnerable, but I don't think that equates to giving someone the power to destroy you. That has no part in a relationship.

Love is something that, I think, transcends being tangible. Sort of like truth in a way. You have facts, sure... but truth or wisdom transcends that. This is actually practical. For things like love, it seems like you have to approach them through negation. So, you figure out what is not love and the thing that is left over is love. So, not possession, not anger, not jealousy, not fear... and so on...

I don't think giving someone the power to destroy you is love.

I think that could be a partial explanation as to what love is.

If that is the case, I have loved (and lost) well, and repeatedly.

Isn’t that kind of saying you are “willing to be vulnerable with someone?” Seems similar at least. Love isn’t the only emotion that comes with love, maybe what this is saying is that love is being able to care enough to control those other emotions? Maybe?

Nope. Sounds terriby co-dependent to me.

I guess I would say letting yourself be vulnerable but sure, trusting someone to not destroy you is another way to put it.

well that's another way to look at it
Romantically speaking it's nature's way of creating a bond through hormones. Enough pain receptors should it go sideways and at least in my exp the "destruction" is temporary.

When put through the lense of being a parent or pet owner the only destruction would be their exit off this mortal coil.