Hello, I hope my answer can be of some help to you.
It seems that the host is aware that it is one's inner self that affects intimacy. Indeed, to feel safe in an intimate relationship, we need to look inward, change our inner patterns, constantly try, practice, and get used to trusting ourselves, and spend more energy understanding and developing ourselves. Ultimately, your trust in yourself is the source of your sense of security in any relationship!
So, we need to do more self-exploration. We can then use what we learn from our relationships to make targeted adjustments to our own patterns.
If a single mother is emotionally hurt, she might tell her daughter things like, "Don't trust men. Women must rely on themselves," or, "Don't get too involved in relationships. If he treats you badly before marriage, what will he do after?"
This will have a direct and significant impact on your daughter's adult relationships and become her world view. Then, when she grows up, she'll be constantly suspicious and testing.
Even if she meets a reliable man, if she has such a belief system without any screening, then subconsciously she will constantly test and try to see if the other person really loves her. She'll challenge the man's patience in various ways, act up, and be jealous. She'll hope that the other person will unconditionally appease and tolerate her every time, until she has used up all of the other person's love and patience.
Ultimately, when that person leaves, she'll be left with the idea that men can't be trusted. It's a vicious cycle: beliefs create a matching reality, and reality reinforces that belief.
Our personality model is basically our entire belief system, and they interact with each other. Your personality model will strengthen your belief system, and then your belief system?
And it will affect your personality.
If we don't change our inner patterns, it'll be tough to break out of this cycle and become the person we hate the most. So how do our inner patterns form?
This is directly related to the way we attached as children.
Psychological research shows that children usually display three main types of attachment patterns during infancy and early childhood.
1. Secure attachment: A child with a secure attachment can play with toys without worrying when they are with their mother, and won't always cling to her. When their mother leaves, they'll show distress, but when she returns, they'll immediately seek contact with her, calm down quickly, and continue playing.
2. Avoidant attachment is another insecure attachment pattern. Kids with this type of attachment don't feel much tension or worry when their mom leaves and don't pay much attention when she returns. They may briefly approach and then walk away, displaying neglectful and evasive behaviors. These kids don't see much difference between the comfort of their mom and that of a stranger.
3. Anxious attachment is another insecure attachment pattern. They'll strongly resist their mother leaving, seek contact when she returns, but show resistance and anger. They can't calm down or play games.
Further research showed that people who lack a sense of security in intimate relationships often fall into one of two categories: insecure attachment, which can be either avoidant or anxious; or secure attachment. Avoidant attachment is characterized by being cold or indifferent in a romantic relationship, or by playing the role of the "bad guy" and forcing the other person to please them. Anxious attachment is characterized by tight control over the other person, constant monitoring, and a need for constant reassurance.
When there are problems in an intimate relationship, they often feel that the other person is being mean, that the other person is the relationship destroyer, and they rarely take the initiative to improve the relationship. Instead, they easily fall into anxiety and fear.
The truth is, if we want to feel secure in our intimate relationships, we don't need to change the other person. We need to change our own internal patterns and become secure attachments ourselves.
To become a secure attachment person, we need to do the following:
1. Know yourself and your own internal patterns.
If we take a step back and look at what we really need, we'll see that a lot of our emotions come from a deep-rooted desire for security that we didn't get as kids. Intimate relationships can make us retreat into our childhood, and that unfulfilled longing for childhood becomes our need.
When we feel angry, it's important to take a step back and ask ourselves why. Are we frustrated because our needs haven't been met?
Do we want the other person to approve of us, or do we want to be accepted unconditionally? Do we have any beliefs that are wrong?
...
You'll probably find that every time you get angry, it's because of the same thing, and that thing is your core problem.
For instance, I used to get annoyed at other people for what they did, at my kids for not doing their homework to my standards, at my husband for playing mahjong late into the night, and at my mother-in-law for controlling me.
Later on, I realized that I needed to change my own mindset, not them. I was measuring them against my own standards and feeling uncomfortable when they didn't meet them. But they're all independent individuals, and we can't control their actions and thoughts. When I accept them for who they are and express my expectations, if they can't do it, I don't use my own standards to measure them. Instead, I respect their independence and uniqueness. My heart is much lighter, and my relationship with them is becoming more and more harmonious.
2. Accept yourself and learn to take care of yourself.
Often, our problems stem from self-denial and self-doubt. Some of us are influenced by traditional Chinese culture and engage in self-criticism, thinking we're not good enough.
But if we keep dwelling on our flaws, we'll never be able to break free from our internal patterns and find the strength and courage within ourselves.
We can only let go of the resentment and anger we felt towards our parents during childhood when we learn to accept ourselves and our imperfections. And we can only build up inner strength and a sense of security when we learn to care for ourselves and take care of our own feelings and needs.
To care for ourselves, we have to keep at it. There are three key things to keep in mind:
It's important to take a step back and observe the situation without getting caught up in the emotion. Pain is inevitable, but it's not helpful to fight against it. Learn to surrender and accept the situation.
When we feel pain, the first thing we should do is not try to get rid of it or fight against it. Instead, we should accept and recognize the pressure and burden within us that are causing the pain.
I have a friend who was often neglected by her parents when she was a child. Whenever she particularly wanted to connect with them, she would beat herself up and feel hopeless. I suggested that she write down her feelings at these times, including the fear and guilt from her childhood of being abandoned. Gradually, she came to understand the true feelings behind her habitual attachment patterns, tried to understand the ins and outs of this feeling, experienced the emotions this pattern brought to her life, and discovered the repressed self-wishes and needs behind this feeling.
It's important to remember that in this process, we shouldn't be judging, just observing.
By staying aware, we can learn more about ourselves and why we suffer, as well as what we need.
Connect with our shared humanity and build a sense of connection and belonging within.
Life is full of challenges, and we all face difficult times. This is part of our shared humanity, and it's something we learn and grow from. When we recognize this, it helps us rebuild a sense of connection and belonging within ourselves.
I have a friend who's been having some issues with her boss recently. She's struggling to keep up with the company's progress at work and feels like her boss is asking too much of her. She's trying her best, but just can't seem to meet the boss' expectations. The boss, on the other hand, isn't seeing that she's trying hard and is pretty upset about the mistakes in her work.
Instead of trying to actively resolve the situation, she believes this is just how capable she is. If it doesn't work out, she'll simply leave.
She has set the bar pretty high for herself, hoping her boss won't be upset if she doesn't meet expectations. She's also hoping her boss won't take a pay cut because she's struggling to keep up with the company's progress. When her boss points out her mistakes and shortcomings in meetings, she resists, thinking she has no problems. She's not ready to admit her shortcomings and is resistant to growth.
One day, she met colleagues from other companies and realized that their lives were much more challenging than hers. They weren't paid as much as she was either. She felt relieved and realized her previous mindset was too narrow. She shouldn't resist the boss over minor issues at work. She also understood the boss's intentions. The boss didn't intend to embarrass her or hurt her, but wanted her to adapt to the company's growth, continue to grow, and thus adapt to society better.
When she sees this, it makes her more aware and resilient, and she takes the initiative to grow and improve herself. She's full of motivation for change and finally finds a sense of inner connection and belonging.
Be kind to yourself and treat yourself with the same consideration you would treat anyone else.
Self-care is about recognizing when you're feeling down and taking care of yourself in the process. This can be done mentally, emotionally, physically, or through certain behaviors. In other words, you're your own inner parent, taking care of your inner child.
For instance, if you feel guilty about something, you can imagine what you'd say to a close friend if you were chatting with her. In that moment, you can give yourself the same kind of comfort: "I can see that you're taking your needs and bottom line seriously, but your willingness is what matters most. A small deviation from the goal is no big deal. Everyone encounters this kind of situation, but tomorrow is a new day. I hope you'll be kind to yourself, be patient, and be forgiving."
When you find some positive experiences through continuous self-care practices, you'll become more confident. If you take care of your emotions and other needs, and keep growing on your own, you'll be more able to take on challenges and your abilities and energy will grow. This will help you feel more secure and worthy.
When you feel secure and stable inside, it shows in how you relate to other people.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Comments
I can totally relate to feeling overlooked as the youngest. It's like you're always striving for attention in a way that can be exhausting. Learning to manage those emotions is tough but it's a step towards understanding yourself better and what you really need in a relationship.
Hearing your story, I think everyone has their moments of insecurity. Being the jester is a defense mechanism, right? Maybe now it's time to explore other sides of yourself. Building selfworth from within could help you find more balanced and fulfilling relationships.
It sounds like being the youngest has had its challenges for you. Perhaps focusing on personal growth and setting boundaries can help stabilize those emotional highs and lows. A strong sense of self can lead to healthier connections with others.
Your experience as the third child seems to have shaped your approach to relationships. It might be helpful to work on expressing your needs clearly. When you feel secure in who you are, it can change how you interact with people and foster more positive experiences.
Feeling inferior can weigh heavily on anyone. For me, finding a hobby or passion that makes you feel accomplished can boost your confidence. This newfound strength can translate into feeling more secure in your relationships too.