In times of darkness there are always enlightened people who guide us, they are like sunlight entering through a glass window to inspire us, giving us hope in those moments when we lose track, spirit and the north of our vital compasses. are medicines for the heart in times of adversity.
We must admit: we all need someone who cares about us, we can love our independence, our proud autonomy and even think that we carry the sun inside us, however, when there is a storm outside, sooner or later there are leaks of sadness. , infused by fear, insomnia and that vital discomfort that only emotional support, empathy and affection can alleviate.
- But here’s a curious fact: the vision of social psychology reveals that emotional support is an art that not everyone dominates.
- Strangely enough.
- Sometimes those who love us the most can provide us with a disproportionate kind of care capable of generating in us a sense of dependence.
- Inefficiency or weakness.
The most effective type of support is the one that is always present, but in a subtle, captivating and authentic way, we are also talking about this type of assistance in which none of the members will feel indebted to each other, because there are no “donors” and “recipients” of affection, there is a link where there is a fluid, subtle and wonderful reciprocity.
We invite you to reflect on this interesting topic and, at the same time, with different nuances.
We all know what empathy is and what its impact is on our daily relationships, but we are sure that on more than one occasion, when it comes to someone unable to communicate with others, someone with a certain aggressive, hostile and even destructive character. nuances, it is often said that “this person has no empathy. “
Simon Baron-Cohen, professor at the University of Cambridge and an expert in the development of psychopathology, defines these psychological traits with a term to remember: “corrosive empathy. “According to him, does this behavior occur when someone simply doesn’t stop?with others, for it corrodes, undermines and fragments with persistent slowness those around it. They’re profiles with some darkness.
Undoubtedly, at the opposite pole are the enlightened people, without seeing them as personalities of great nobility and goodness, we can define them as men and women who “know how to be and let themselves be”, as facilitators of internal harmony, as affective. spin-offs that gather our broken pieces to remind us, once again, how beautiful and important we can be.
We point out at first that support is, in fact, a type of art that not everyone knows how to practice, for example, we must remember that when the donor clearly differs from the recipient, sometimes some discomfort can occur. The recipient may feel like a “debtor” or become dependent on a donor who appreciates his role as a caregiver.
Enlightened people guide us through difficult times, accompany us in moments of well-being and inspire us every day, it is something we all know. But can we offer you an accompaniment with similar quality and authenticity?
Believe it or not, providing emotional support is not easy, doing this requires very deep self-knowledge, good emotion management and a decentralization of that empathy in every way.
There are those who are able to feel empathy for the other person, but never develop cognitive empathy. So it’s not just about “feeling”?what the person is going through before me, I have to understand.
Enlightened people are few words, but great feats will be by your side before you ask for them and will be able to read your wails and sorrows in your eyes. In conclusion, what we sometimes mean by support is not so much. it is based not only on saying what is right, but also on what is appropriate through small acts of kindness and sincere interest.
Images courtesy of Claudia Tremblay and Amanda Cass