Hello! I happened to see the questioner's question and would like to offer a few thoughts. I believe that your parents' education of you represents their perception of you. I also believe that they have a good image of people in life and that they don't offend people. I don't deny that the education of the previous generation has brought a lot of negative impacts on children's growth in many cases.
You say you were a good child growing up, gentle and kind. These are not shortcomings, because kindness is a beautiful quality in humans. It is precisely because you are kind that you can consider the needs of others, isn't it?
However, your kindness may sometimes be misinterpreted as weakness, which can lead to bullying. Perhaps you are often reluctant to refuse others, eager to help your classmates, obedient, and well-behaved, which could make others feel that they can take advantage of you.
But do you really want to be bullied? Of course not. It's important to remember that there is a limit to kindness. Kindness without a limit can sometimes come across as indulgent.
I believe that your family of origin has had an impact on you. It's possible that your parents may have been strict with you from an early age, expecting unconditional obedience from you. Or it's possible that your parents may have been emotional, scaring you of conflict, so that you have lost the strength to resist and continue to behave in the same way as you did in your family environment. But the fact that you are asking this question today means that you are beginning to wake up and that you don't want to continue like this, right? If I may, I'd like to suggest a few ways to do this:
Could I ask you to list your inner fears and fears?
Perhaps it would be helpful to consider what you might be afraid of if you were unable to refuse your classmates. Similarly, what are your concerns if you feel unable to refuse your parents?
Perhaps you could consider what you might be afraid of if you were unable to resist bullying. It might be helpful to make the event more concrete and the feelings of fear within you more concrete. The more detailed you are, the more you will understand your own fears.
For example, "I don't listen to my parents because I'm afraid they'll get angry and stop loving me," "I'm afraid to say no to my friends, because I'm afraid they'll hate me and ignore me, and isolate me." When you understand yourself, imagine that you are faced with something that requires you to say no, and ask yourself, "Is it really necessary to be afraid?"
"Is it truly essential for them to like me?"
2. Consider learning to say no to others in small things, starting with your parents. You may wish to try refusing your parents' requests and doing things your way. This could help to gradually build up your strength.
3. As in any other relationship, it may be helpful to consider learning to say no to their demands, while also being mindful of the impact on the relationship. It might be beneficial to view this from another perspective: "If they truly consider me a friend, they will value my input."
If you are concerned about being disliked by others, I suggest reading the book The Courage to Be Disliked. I've found that psychology books can be helpful for spiritual growth.
4. When faced with bullying at school, I'm curious if you've ever considered speaking up or seeking help. It would also be helpful to know what stage you're at, whether you've already entered society. Have you ever tried doing something you've always wanted to do but were afraid to do? It might be helpful to experience what it feels like.
It's akin to riding a roller coaster: you're initially fearful when you're not on it, but once you're on, it's not as daunting as you'd imagined, is it? Whether it's bullying in the past or social relationships in the present, it's important to confront your inner self.
Perhaps it would be helpful to consider whether you want to be your true self or the self that is recognized by others. It's understandable if you're not sure which path to take. Either way, it's important to remember that this requires a process, and you can take your time, trying to make breakthroughs. It's only through brave attempts again and again that your inner strength can grow, and only then can real change be brought about.
If it is within your means, you may wish to consider seeking the guidance of a counselor.
My name is Mingyang, and I just wanted to say that I love you all around the world!
Comments
I can totally relate to feeling like the good behavior instilled in us by our parents sometimes made us a target. It's heartbreaking that it led to being bullied and experiencing violence.
It's tough when the qualities we were raised with, like kindness and respect, somehow turned into vulnerabilities. I wonder how different things could have been if we had learned to stand up for ourselves earlier.
The way I was brought up also made me overly accommodating, and it's taken me years to understand that it's okay to say no and set boundaries. Realizing this has been a big part of my personal growth.
Reflecting on it now, it seems like the wellmeaning advice from my parents inadvertently taught me to be too cautious and avoidant of social interactions, which didn't help in building confidence.
It's sad that the gentle and considerate nature we were encouraged to have ended up making us seem like easy targets. I wish there was a way to change the perception others had of us back then.