Hello, question asker! I'm Jiang 61, and I'm thrilled to be here to help!
First of all, thank you so much for trusting us and being willing to tell us your concerns so that we can help you. You ask, "Should I listen to my family or follow my heart when it comes to their views on me dating?"
"Let me give you my thoughts first: follow your heart! Next, I will talk about my analysis.
1. Arrangement
1⃣️, plans
You say, "I'm studying for a master's degree in a big city, and I plan to stay here afterwards. I've also found a good job, and my family's situation is OK, but I've always been single."
You are a bold young man who has left your hometown to study in a big city. I can see that you are a person with your own ideas who is ready to make your own way in the world.
Your family background and academic qualifications are excellent! The only thing lacking is that you are single. This adds a significant amount of worry to your future arrangements, but it also opens up a world of possibilities!
2⃣ Parents' opinions
You said, "My family arranged a blind date for me with someone they know (a girl from a well-off family). I don't really like her type of girl, but my family keeps pressuring me to go and talk to her! I made an excuse and let the matter drop."
Your family has a traditional view of marriage, which is great! They believe that the marriage of their children must be of equal status, obey the parents' orders, and listen to the matchmaker's advice. However, you have a different view. You believe that you should be the one to decide on your own marriage, which is a wonderful thing!
So, you found an excuse, and I rejected the girl who was quite involved in family matters. This also set the stage for the conflict you later had about what kind of relationship to have—and it was a doozy!
3⃣️, arguments
You say, "Recently, I found a girl in the neighborhood who is quite lively and cute. She and I also get along well and want to develop the relationship."
But when the family found out, they got pretty mad and said that I needed to find a girl from a good family or a girl I knew well if I were to stay in the big city, and that it would be more stable if we bought a house later. I had a fight with my family because of this, but it was totally worth it!
Personality
You are an outgoing, charming, and fun-loving person. You have a knack for making friends and connecting with people. You enjoy lively and cute girls and have a great time together.
You like lively and cute girls, and you two get along really well!
It's so great that you've found a girl who makes up for your shortcomings! You are more or less an introverted, unsociable boy, but this girl is really making a difference in your life.
The family has always been involved in your life choices and also comments on your relationships. You generally tolerate your parents' interference and either make excuses or give in to save face for each other, rarely arguing your case.
Let's talk about disputes!
However, when it comes to deciding who to marry, where your future should develop for the better, whether to buy a house, etc., I don't know if it's because your parents have really touched your bottom line, or if they just want to fight for their rights, and you have a dispute with them.
?? A bottom line!
I've mentioned a bottom line here, and it's great that you have your own bottom line and sense of boundaries! You'll fight for it, and you'll win!
Your parents are used to telling you what to do and manipulating you, and they have no boundaries when it comes to telling you what to do about your marriage, your future development, and your living arrangements. There is a pleasing element to your personality, and this is the root of the remorse and distress you feel after an argument.
But here's the good news! You can change all of that!
2. Thoughts and actions
1⃣️, true thoughts
You said, "Actually, I just have a little bit of a good impression of that girl. I haven't decided yet, and I'm not sure if she likes me, and I'm not sure about her family either. But even under these circumstances, my family still strongly opposes me getting in touch with that girl, even on a friendly level."
I just want to make a choice for myself for once! Is it really that difficult? Should I listen to my family or follow my heart?
You're just going with the flow!
You're sharing your honest feelings about the girl you have a crush on, and you're in touch with her now. You're not sure what led you to fall in love, but you're excited to find out! You're open with us about your experiences, and you're eager to please your parents. You're ready to compromise and try new things!
True thoughts
Your confusion is related to your character, and it's a great opportunity for growth! On the one hand, you want to be independent, but on the other, you have the desire to disobey your parents, which is your usual style.
You want to stick to your principles, and you are going to do it! You just need to be careful not to offend your parents.
2⃣️, The reason why you can't insist on your own
It's your personality!
You are unable to assert yourself, and this is entirely due to your personality. I suspect you are a Compliant + Dependent personality type, which is great because it means you have the potential to become a great leader!
Now, let's talk about the "pleaser."
A pleasing personality is all about making others happy! It's about putting others' feelings first and making them feel good. When we do this, we feel safe and loved. It's a win-win!
This means you often pay close attention to your parents' thoughts and feelings, while also learning to listen to your own!
People with a depressive personality
The melancholic personality type is characterized by:
Characteristics: thoughtful, highly sensitive, idealistic, in pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.
You have so many amazing strengths! You're sensitive, loyal, talented, and insightful.
Disadvantages: They are stubborn, indecisive, self-centered, and pessimistic, and passive.
Your character means that even if you fight for your rights, you will feel bad about it in the end and hesitate to confront your parents. But that's okay! You have the power to choose how you react to these situations. You can choose to feel bad about it, or you can choose to feel good about it. You can choose to confront your parents, or you can choose to let it go. You have the power to decide!
Your family has a fascinating history!
Your parents are accusatory and aggressive, which presents an exciting opportunity for growth and change!
People with no boundaries who are accusatory
Blame-shifters are great at ignoring others, attacking, criticizing, and blaming. They love to pass the buck! "It's all your fault," "What's wrong with you?" are their catchphrases.
Blame-shifters have no boundaries. They accuse others to prove that they are right. But there's more to them than meets the eye! Deep down, they are actually empty and insecure, so they use bravado to show their dignity. They are actually afraid of being looked down upon and ignored.
People with an aggressive personality
A radical personality is characterized by:
Characteristics: strong will, action-oriented, energetic, and achievement-oriented—what a great combination!
You have so many amazing strengths! You're courageous and decisive, persevering, unafraid of hardship, and highly self-disciplined.
Disadvantages: short-tempered, lack of empathy, stubborn, arrogant, and complacent.
If parents have been raising you in this authoritative manner for a long time, you will have the incredible opportunity to lose your sense of self and boundaries, comply with their opinions, live up to their expectations, satisfy their vanity, and make them feel their own value. They often cross the line and do things that should belong to you, such as preventing you from doing the things you like, ignoring your feelings and dignity.
You have plenty of energy to spare!
When you can want to be yourself, it is when you have sufficient energy and are confident. You are ready to stick up for yourself and express your own views! You are willing to accommodate them and don't want to offend them, which reflects your strong sense of boundaries and ability to stand up for yourself. You can proudly soften up, please them, and obey them.
Let's talk about communication!
You want to stick to your guns, express your position, views, and determination. You know that fighting doesn't solve your problems, which shows that you have the opportunity to communicate better and use the right communication model.
3. What to do
1⃣️, Stay true to yourself!
It's time to establish a sense of boundaries!
A boundary is, first and foremost, a limit. And what an amazing thing a limit can be! It can be physical, psychological, or even physiological.
People absolutely need boundaries!
A boundary is so much more than just a limit! It's also a rule that protects.
And there's another kind of boundary that's all about you! Your sense of security, identity, and happiness are all within the scope of "me," and it's up to you to consider and achieve them on your own.
Be yourself!
Once you know your boundaries, you can protect them from infringement, do what you should do, and take responsibility for yourself! This is the amazing benefit of establishing a sense of boundaries. It's also an attitude of following your heart to take responsibility for your future.
2⃣️, effective communication
If you want your parents to accept your point of view, you need to use the right communication method, which is effective communication. And you can do it!
Communication is the exchange of information, which is an amazing process! It's the way we convey a message to a communication partner in the hope of eliciting a desired response. When this process is achieved, we have effective communication!
Communication is a two-way street! It involves both verbal and non-verbal messages, with the non-verbal part often being more important than the verbal part. Effective communication is key to building and maintaining both intimate family relationships and complex social relationships.
I'm so excited to share with you the four steps to effective communication!
Step 1: Express your feelings, not just emotions!
Step 2: It's time to express what you want! Don't hide your feelings, let them shine! Express that you are angry, not that you are angry about expressing it.
Step 3: Express your needs, not your complaints. Don't make the other person guess what you want!
Step 4: Express where you want to go, not complain about where you are! Look at the end result, not get stuck in the event.
When you communicate clearly with your parents about your future plans, your outlook on life, and your ideas about love, without getting emotional or complaining, and tell them what you want to achieve, they will be so proud of you!
3⃣️, Change the dependent relationship!
Your relationship with your parents has changed for the better! It's gone from one of child-like dependence to one of independence. Apart from your need to make a determined effort to change, your parents also need to gradually adapt to your separation. Give you the space to grow that belongs to you!
Insist on separation!
Keep that distance, both physically and emotionally, and stick to your guns about this separation thing!
Mutual non-interference is key!
You can do this! Usually, each of you does your own thing, but interact during holidays and when needed. Live your own life!
You are doing great! You are establishing a sense of boundaries, changing attachment relationships, and improving communication patterns, so that you can stick to being yourself and arrange your own future work and life. Your parents have accepted your request for separation and no longer pay attention to your future. They can also live their own lives and you can both shine!
And now, back to the original question: you now know whether to follow your parents' arrangements or follow your heart's answer!
I wish the questioner all the best!
Comments
I can understand your frustration. It's tough being caught between what your family wants and what you feel is right for you. Maybe it's time to have an honest talk with them about your feelings and try to explain that you need some space to figure things out on your own.
It sounds like you're in a challenging spot. Your family has their concerns, but it's important to consider what makes you happy too. Perhaps you could try to meet both halfway by getting to know this girl better while also addressing your family's worries about stability and compatibility.
Family pressure can be intense, especially when it comes to relationships. I think it's important to communicate openly with the girl as well. Let her know the situation and see if she's willing to work through it with you. Sometimes transparency can lead to unexpected support.
It seems like you're torn between two paths. One thing you might do is set up a meeting with the girl from the welloff family just to see if there's any chemistry. It might help you make a more informed decision and show your family you're willing to listen to them.
I admire your courage to want to make your own choice. It's not easy standing up to family expectations. You might find it helpful to involve a neutral third party, like a counselor, who can facilitate a conversation between you and your family to bridge the gap in understanding.