Healthy people care about how others feel and expect the same in return. But people who grow up in emotionally abusive environments are less likely to acknowledge their own feelings or feel worthy of respect. Because of what was modeled, they often attract partners who lack self-respect and treat each other accordingly. Most of us have blind spots that could benefit from the light of our attention. Becoming aware of what constitutes emotional abuse and taking an honest look inside to see our own patterns (without defensiveness) is how we let…
The healing begin.
Jarl and Steve
Thanks for bringing up this subject. I have noticed people trying to manage my self-esteem when upset with me about something. When one set of insecurities is used to nurture another set of insecurities, it certainly undoes the good of the relationship. We need so much to get closer together, and we all have to work to nurture our own confidence so that we can. Finding this difficult is certainly part of the human tragedy. I couldn’t manage without my daily reset to grateful non-resistance.
Love, Larry