Good morning,
Host:
From what I can gather from reading the post, it seems that the poster is often left feeling drained by those around him. I empathise with the difficulties he is facing. At the same time, I admire the courage he has shown in facing his own heart, speaking these words bravely, and actively seeking help on the platform. This will undoubtedly help him to better understand others and himself, and thus adjust himself.
I hope that by sharing my observations and thoughts in the post, I can help you to view the situation from a more diverse perspective.
1. Could I respectfully propose that we consider why people might expect others to satisfy them?
In the post, the poster mentions the various expectations of the boss, wife, children, mother, friends, and classmates, and these expectations make the poster feel drained. I can relate to the poster's feelings and difficulties to a certain extent. This may be a true portrayal of many adults!
Let's consider why people may expect others to meet their needs. When these expectations aren't met, it can lead to a range of emotions. I believe that, at its core, human nature has this aspect of control, which could be described as a form of "narcissism," or the hope that the world revolves around us.
It is perhaps understandable that we hope the world revolves according to our beliefs. After all, each of us is confined to our own small world.
It is only natural, then, to expect others to meet our needs. Conversely, when our needs are met, we feel good.
For instance, if someone else meets our needs, we may find ourselves living a simpler life on our own. In close relationships, if someone else meets our needs, we may feel understood and cared for, and supported in sharing the pain. In this way, we may avoid taking responsibility for our own lives, or at least not all of it.
It is therefore understandable that many people expect others to satisfy their needs, as this is beneficial to us all. As a result of our inherent human nature, we are all driven to seek profit and avoid harm.
2. It is also possible that how others treat us may reflect our own behavior.
There is a saying in psychology that goes, "How others treat us may be what we teach them." What is the meaning of this?
It could be perceived that if we do not express our feelings, fight back or show any emotion when someone treats us badly and crosses the line, this may give the other person the impression that they can treat us in this way.
This means that I can treat him in this way. From a psychological perspective, a relationship is something that involves two people, and it is a mutual matter.
It is not uncommon for others to have expectations of us. However, if these expectations cause us discomfort or exceed our personal boundaries, we have the right to decline.
It's important to remember that what others expect of us is not always within our control. However, we can take steps to guard our boundaries and protect ourselves. While we may not be able to control others, we can take measures to ensure our personal space is respected. If we feel our boundaries have been crossed, it's crucial to communicate that clearly and assertively.
It is likely that such a relationship would involve a great deal less consumption.
For the original poster, it may be necessary to decline in an appropriate manner. However, if we do not decline, there may be benefits to that as well.
3. Consider learning to nourish yourself.
In the post, the host mentioned that you feel happiest when you get off work every day, light a cigarette in the car, and slowly listen to that radio station with the bad signal and the bad jokes. This may be a sentiment shared by many men, so it would be interesting to understand why they feel happier at this time.
It may be the case that this is the only space in which they are unable to consume us.
In this space, we have the opportunity to be our own masters and to belong to ourselves. We can be ourselves, but when we go home, we may be a husband, a father, or a child.
In the workplace, we may find ourselves in roles such as leaders or subordinates. This can make it challenging to feel like we truly belong to ourselves.
It is therefore important to recognise that many relationships can sometimes drain us. On the one hand, it is possible to express our feelings and expectations to others and ask them to meet our needs. On the other hand, there are ways we can nourish ourselves.
How might we nourish ourselves?
It may be helpful to consider doing things that we enjoy and that make us feel at ease. These feelings of comfort can nourish us and help us grow stronger. In a relationship, it's important to recognize that needs are often shared. We can support others, and at the same time, we may sometimes need to allow ourselves to be "fragile" and ask others to meet our needs. This kind of relationship may be more fulfilling and beneficial for both parties.
I hope these words have been helpful and inspiring for you. I am Zeng Chen, a psychosynthesis coach. If you would like to continue the conversation, you can also click Find a Coach to communicate with me one-on-one.
Comments
Life can be tough, and it seems like everyone has their own demands on you. It's hard to find a balance between work and personal life, especially when there are so many expectations from different people. Sometimes all you want is just a moment of peace.
I get what you're saying. Everyone wants something from you, but no one stops to ask how you're doing. It's like your existence is solely for the benefit of others, and it's exhausting. The only time you feel a bit of relief is that short drive home where you can just be with yourself.
You're right; it does feel like we're always expected to be the source of happiness or support for others without receiving much in return. That cigarette and the staticfilled radio become the only moments of solace. It's sad that this is the highlight of the day, but it's important to have those small joys.
It's really challenging when you're pulled in so many directions. Your boss, family, friends, they all need something from you, and it's easy to forget about your own needs. That little ritual of lighting up and listening to the radio, however bad the signal, becomes a sacred moment just for you.
I understand the feeling of being spread too thin. Everyone has their hand out, and it's hard to say no. The happiest moment of the day is when you can finally exhale, light that cigarette, and listen to the imperfect music on the radio. It's not much, but it's yours.