What do you think about letting go of the helping complex?
Thank you for the meaningful topic.
I'm Kelly.
Let's talk about the helping complex first.
There are a few reasons why we help others:
1: We have been helped and treated kindly before. This is the influence of the times, environment, and culture, just like the spirit of Lei Feng.
2: My dad helped others unconditionally. He was happy when he was needed and respected. He would stay up all night helping others write letters and couplets.
3: I was also influenced by what I heard and saw.
I had a strong helping complex. Before studying psychology, I often helped my family and friends unconditionally. It wasn't until these relationships started to have problems that I started to think about my helping complex.
1. About boundaries
My brother's kids used to follow me around when they were little and often came to my house. I always felt that their parents' educational methods were not good. My nephew liked my methods and began to resist his parents' education.
1: I don't understand. The kids are the younger brother and sister-in-law's. They'll learn to teach well with time.
2: Different educational philosophies can cause problems for children and parents.
3: I'm responsible for my child. I don't put myself in other people's shoes. How would I feel if someone else was looking after my child?
I realized I have a savior complex and am self-righteous.
The child's parents know the child better. So after I became aware of these issues, I learned to set boundaries, respect my younger brother, and also respect children.
[Moving oneself by oneself]
I like to help others because it makes me happy. I was always belittled by my parents, so I longed to be recognized and appreciated by others.
It's okay to pay attention to others, but find the right balance.
Later, I started paying attention to myself, to others, and to helping others. I can go to others or they can come to me.
If a friend has a problem and comes to me, I'll share my experience. If they have no experience, I'll let them find other solutions.
I realized I was helping others gain a sense of achievement. Was I also helping them solve their problems?
Teach someone to fish.
Later, I was a teacher too. I helped my students learn by talking about different ways of learning. I also noticed what each student was good at and gave them feedback.
In this process:
If someone is not confident, encourage and affirm them.
People with a lively temperament are encouraged to persevere.
Help someone with low self-esteem see their own merits.
I would answer my friends' questions about family and child-rearing so they would come to me for solutions.
I would also teach him some problem-solving methods. He knows his family and children best, so I would let him think for himself about how to help them grow. For example, he needs to keep learning to be able to solve problems better.
[Bole and the Thousand-Mile Horse]
We know the story: does the horse come first or the horse trainer? The horse trainer is good at spotting a talented horse, and the talented horse needs the same eye.
Bole is excellent, as is the thousand-mile horse. We let go of our helping complex, appreciate more, and recognize others' strengths.
Respect him. Don't pity him or try to change him. Teach him.
Trust him to inspire and guide himself.
[The helping complex and respect for others]
The helping complex is about being aware of your own thoughts and feelings.
The helping complex is about boundaries. Who is responsible, the helper or the other person?
In one of her articles, Xia Peng wrote, "What else can we find in poetry?"
Poetry can also help us become more self-aware.
In his essay "On the Relationship between Analytical Psychology and Poetry," Carl Jung discussed how the two can help people grow.
This also applies to the relationship between the poet and the reader. Those who seek help can explore their self-awareness with guidance.
When you awaken your true self, you can help yourself.
"Self-expression" is a way of showing his inner nature. He is saying things in a way he would not normally say.
In counseling, when someone confides in someone else, they are also opening up.
Analytical psychology calls this the "self-help complex." It's not pathological, and normal people can be controlled by it temporarily or permanently.
People can use poetry to heal and soothe their minds and hearts.
Some people can express themselves and have a helping complex.
The helping complex is neither good nor bad. It is neutral and may not be disrespectful.
It's about relationships and feelings in interactions.
We need to be aware and motivated, and we need to know our limits and how we relate to others.
Respect is mutual. Someone with a helping complex can't help someone who doesn't know how to respect or help others.
I hope we can keep thinking about this.
Hope you're well.
Comments
I understand where they're coming from. It can feel dismissive to tell someone to let go of their desire to help as if it's a burden or an unhealthy obsession. People want to contribute and make a difference, and that impulse should be nurtured not discouraged.
It seems like the phrase is often used in contexts where people need to accept situations they can't change. While respecting others' choices is important, it doesn't mean we should stop caring or offering support when it's genuinely needed. It's about finding a balance between being helpful and recognizing boundaries.
This phrase might hit a nerve because it touches on the fine line between being supportive and overstepping. Sometimes wanting to help comes from a place of empathy and connection, and telling someone to back off can feel like rejecting those qualities. We all need to learn when our help is wanted and when it's best to step aside.
The sentiment behind the phrase is valuable in teaching us humility and acceptance. However, it can come across as overly simplistic, ignoring the complexity of human relationships and emotions. Encouraging respect for others' autonomy is positive, but it shouldn't imply that concern for others is a negative trait.