The idea that someone else needs to change to make us happy is a recipe for lifelong conflict and disappointment.
So, what is the solution?
Understand that there are many skills we can learn to help us better identify, understand, process and resolve our own feelings…without unrealistic demands on anyone else to come to our rescue.
Here are a few skills we’ll explore later:
- Keep a journal of our thoughts and feelings
- Creating a genogram to help us study our family relationships
- Explore the impact of unusual or harmful childhood, adolescent, or adult experiences, especially related to abuse or neglect
- Learn cognitive therapy tools, especially cognitive restructuring.
The challenge is to lead a more mindful and conscious life and avoid pointing the finger of blame at others.