Sometimes, we reach out to help our loved ones when they are not yet ready or even much interested in being ‘saved’ by us. Based on our own experiences, we assume that we know what is best for them, thus we persist in trying to aid them with their challenges. Are we genuinely intending what is best for them or are we insidiously controlling them using the labels of love, responsibility and caring to camouflage the reality? What about their innate freedom to decide what, when, who, why and where? If we honestly empathize with them, we understand that we would not like to be controlled or over-protected in the name of love, responsibility and caring either. Often, the most adventurous walk we can take is the one in another’s shoes to know their perspective.
