Dear Sir/Madam,
I hope my answer proves useful to you.
Best regards,
After carefully reviewing the original poster's description, it is evident that the primary challenge is navigating her mother-in-law's expectations. As a daughter-in-law, I can relate to the nuances of this dynamic. When I first married my husband, I also placed a high value on my mother-in-law's opinions. Despite occasional misgivings about her advice, I still sought to adhere to her guidance. It is understandable to be influenced by such a relationship, and I believe this is a common experience among daughter-in-laws.
After a period of adjustment and personal growth, I am now better equipped to handle my mother-in-law's words and actions. Our communication has also improved significantly. Consequently, I am more confident in our relationship. While I am aware that she approves of me, I understand that she has her habits and ideas.
In light of the above, my advice to you is as follows:
1. Attempt to comprehend the rationale behind your mother-in-law's conduct, identify her requirements, and, if feasible, endeavor to fulfill them.
It is often the case that we only see a person's behavior, but there is a reason behind it. For example, your mother-in-law may say, "No one is happy all the time. Everyone has bad days," and then tell you that she can tell when you are happy or not. This indicates that she actually wants you to like her, because what she means is that she wants you to listen to her happily.
It is unclear why she wants you to listen to her happily. Without knowing the specifics of her remarks, it is difficult to ascertain her intentions.
As an elder, she undoubtedly hopes that you will respect some of her advice. What is her ultimate goal? Is it that she hopes you can take care of yourselves?
Is she attempting to share her own experiences?
My mother-in-law frequently made demands of us. After she finished speaking, she would often say, "I told you to listen!" I initially resisted, feeling that she was negating me and accusing me of incompetence. I later attempted to understand her actions, to identify her needs and motivations. It became clear that she lacked trust in our ability to take care of ourselves. She was concerned that we would make mistakes, that I would not be able to manage the household and care for our family.
As our relationship progressed, I made significant strides in my ability to perform household tasks and sought her guidance on occasion. She frequently commends my efforts in the presence of family and friends, noting my versatility and proficiency in various tasks. This is a testament to my ability to meet her expectations, which has led to a reduction in her need to intervene.
2. It is possible to express your true feelings and hopes to your mother-in-law. Only sincere communication can facilitate the development of the relationship.
It is evident that you place a high value on your mother-in-law's opinion of you. Given the length of time you have been dealing with this issue, it is likely that you care deeply about her perception of you. It is therefore important to express your feelings. By doing so, you will likely find that your relationship with her improves.
You can inform her that her comments have caused you to experience a range of emotions, including a sense of conflict and worry. You can express your desire for her approval and acknowledge your concern about her opinion of you. You can also mention that, while you recognize that you occasionally experience negative moods, you are actively working to control your emotions. Additionally, you can share that you are striving to learn how to adjust your behavior and hope for her understanding.
Subsequently, you may wish to extend an invitation to your mother-in-law to express her genuine feelings and thoughts, and ascertain her needs. It is important to remain impartial and refrain from making any judgments or accusations throughout the process. Instead, the objective should be to understand and accept her perspective. Failure to do so may result in the emergence of new conflicts.
It is inevitable that there will be occasional disagreements between a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law. However, if there is open and honest communication, it will become apparent that the mother-in-law is willing to express her true feelings. This will enable a better understanding of her thoughts and opinions, which will in turn help to avoid misunderstandings.
3. It is recommended that you identify methods to release your emotions in order to regain composure and stability.
I believe that your mother-in-law can discern your emotional state with relative ease. This suggests that your emotions are prone to significant fluctuations. One reason for this may be that we often fail to channel our emotions effectively.
When experiencing emotions, it is important to acknowledge them rather than suppressing them. Identifying the root cause of the emotion, such as why you are feeling angry or uncomfortable, is crucial for understanding your true feelings.
What needs have not been met? Is the current situation the source of the issue, or is it a result of past experiences?
It is only when we are aware of our emotions that we can identify our needs and desires when they arise. In this case, the current dilemma is mainly due to a lack of understanding and recognition from your mother-in-law, which is the underlying need behind the emotions.
To address this issue, we can approach it from two perspectives. The first is to directly communicate to your mother-in-law that you require her understanding and recognition. The second is to develop self-awareness. From a psychological perspective, if we fail to recognize ourselves, we may project our feelings and thoughts onto others and believe that they do not recognize us. Therefore, it is possible that your mother-in-law does recognize you, but you lack self-awareness, leading you to believe that she does not recognize you. However, if you recognize yourself, even if others do not, you will feel at peace because you will know that you are complete.
In addition to being aware of the causes of emotions and using methods to meet your needs, there are also many ways to relieve emotions. One such method is keeping a mood diary, in which you write down your worries. This process allows you to sort out your own thoughts. If you keep writing in your mood diary, you will become more and more stable. Another option is talking to a trusted friend about your feelings and thoughts. This provides a different perspective and support and encouragement. You can also engage in sports you enjoy. Exercise can help you release stress, make your body produce dopamine and endorphins, and make you feel happy.
The aforementioned information is for reference only. I wish you the best of luck.
Comments
I can totally relate to feeling anxious over conversations that seem ambiguous. It sounds like your motherinlaw was simply expressing a universal truth about moods fluctuating, nothing more.
Sometimes we read too much into things that are meant to be straightforward. Your motherinlaw probably just wanted you to know that it's okay not to feel great all the time.
It seems like you're putting a lot of pressure on yourself to interpret her words. Maybe try talking to her directly if you're still unsure about what she meant by "sometimes good, sometimes bad".
It's natural to overthink things, especially when family is involved. But from what you've described, it looks like she was offering some wisdom on the variability of life's moments.
Perhaps you could take this as an opportunity to reflect on your own emotional patterns. Understanding that moods change can help us accept our feelings without judgment.