AT THE FEET OF THE MOTHER
Ask Alok da

I feel very insecure in relationships and friendships. I have a strong need to know every detail about my partner and friends—their actions, decisions, and daily activities. If they don’t share things with me, I tend to fight. I also get jealous when they talk to others. I struggle to understand their need for privacy. I want to learn how to deal with these insecurities and build healthier relationships🙄.

Insecurity in relationship arises if there is a certain degree of emotional dependency upon the friend or partner. There is a fear of losing the friendship and hence the mind tries to possess the person. This possessiveness leads next to a wish to control which obviously becomes counterproductive.

What one needs to understand is that, first and foremost this world is deeply interconnected and hence an exclusive friendship with one person is a near impossibility unless one lives in a place where there are no means of contact with anyone else. Secondly, an individualized person, especially strong personalities need space to navigate their life and do not like to be controlled by anyone. It is natural that if everything is shared the partner will have his or her views and a natural tendency to advice or comment on the choices one makes. This evidently creates friction because it is very unlikely that two people will think, feel, act in the same way. Even if there are affinities in certain areas, there is likely to be dissonances in other areas, especially if the personality is complex. Therefore sharing everything, idealistic though it sounds, leads often to misunderstandings. It is this subtle truth of human psychology that has inspired the Shakesperean adage ‘too much closeness breeds contempt’ and the sage advice of the Lebanese mystic ‘let there be spaces in your togetherness ‘.

In fact just as two trees growing too close may hamper each other’s growth so too an excessive closeness leads to a stunting of natural growth in another. It is only when two persons have develooed completely, grown to full maturity that they can share everything and laugh together freely without fear of being judged or criticised. That is very rare. Hence it is best not to insist on sharing everything if you want the friendship to remain healthy and last long.

Share this…

Related Posts

I’ve been trying to develop a healthy outlooks on the dynamics of man-woman relationships in the midst of a lot of mutually contradictory advice of parents, friends, and other parties. As of late, I started to investigate the old and still popular idea of man being the dominant side of the relationship with the woman submitting to his will and being obedient to him […]💑👨👩‍🦰👐

The idea of male dominance is outdated and outrightly childish. Men and women are and should be equal partners. In fact if one is to compare in terms of qualities, then most of them such as the sense of beauty, harmony, love, care, tenderness, affection, sacrifice, self giving, courage, loyalty, fidelity, spirit of perfection in works, compassion, kindness, intuitive intelligence is more often found in women. Men, on the other hand have …

Read More >

I have been a devotee of Hanumanji from my childhood. Traditionally we believe that Hanumanji still stays in the earth. I am curious that in the present Avatar of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo, what is the role he is playing? Also, have you had any experiences with him? Thank you!⛰️🧡🏹🙏

Hanuman ji is a wonderful god who grants bhakti and shakti to those engaged in the sewa of The Lord. That has been my experience with him. 

In the Mahabharata itself there is a story of Hanuman ji teaching a lesson of humility to Bhimsen ji. He also protects the chariot of Arjuna against occult forces. In Kaliyuga he has manifested through some mystics, the most famous instance being of Neemkaroli baba. In the new cycle that has begun now, the old guardians and the…

Read More >

But there also might be some instances where I have to see or face something that is inappropriate or sensitive. How do I find the courage? 🔥😶‍🌫️🌼🌌

The most powerful method is to see the Divine in and behind everything. The first step towards that is to cultivate equanimity and wideness. It is to see the larger picture, like the background sky behind everything. While one has to respond to the outer event in a manner that is appropriate to the situation, one should always …

Read More >