When Self-Abandonment Is Mistaken for Strength
Many of the behaviours most rewarded by society are not necessarily signs of wellbeing. They are signs of adaptation. Being the strong one. The reliable one. The helper. The achiever. The person who never asks for anything and is always there for everyone else. These qualities are often praised without question. They are celebrated in families, workplaces, friendships, and communities. We are taught to admire people who sacrifice, endure, perform, and carry more than their share. Yet beneath many of these admired behaviours lies a question that is rarely asked: What did this person have to disconnect from within themselves in order to become this way? Because not all strength emerges from freedom. Sometimes strength emerges from necessity. Sometimes what looks like confidence is adaptation. Sometimes what looks like selflessness is self-abandonment. And sometimes what we call personality began as a survival strategy. The Adaptations We Learn to Call "Who We Are" Human beings ...