All grown up
It’s almost instinct, to protect yourself from harm. It used to be more about avoiding physical harm, but once it's taken care off, we protect ourselves emotionally as well. Our capability to protect our emotional well-being is not as refined as our capability of protecting ourselves from physical harm. According to the Maslow hierarchy, physical needs are placed at the bottom of the pyramid diagram, which means it needs to be taken care of primarily. After our physical needs are fulfilled, we will move on to the next level of the pyramid. We shift our focus to emotional needs. We learn to establish a sense of belonging and attachment. Anything that seems to disrupt the process, we see it as a harm. Just as physical damage, pain is the most significant signal of incoming threat. We instinctively try every measure to avoid pain, as we interpret it as a sign of being safe.
When we see weakness, we start improving ourselves. We'll learn strategies to keep oneself safe as long as possible. Either through personal experiences or observation. Thus I would say, we could be considered capable of taking care of well being. But I realized one thing recently. What about taking care of others? We are so busy protecting ourselves from the pain inflicted on us. Did we ever think, that we have that same power over someone as well? Just as how others could hurt you quickly, you could hurt others as easy as it is.
You may have realized, those who can hurt you the most, are those who you see as the closest and dearest. They bring you to the highest high, but they could plunge you to the lowest low as well. Regardless of the intention, it is a fact that they could. But it just didn't cross our mind that often. That we have the same power over people who treasure us too. When I first realized I have hurt someone. Not just anybody, but one of the people whom I loved the most, it’s more devastating than me being hurt. It changed you. It’s not guilt or feeling sorry. It’s just pure pain in your heart. I guess this is why they say it's harder to forgive yourself. One day, the person will heal from the pain inflicted on them. But you might still be giving yourself a hard time.
I guess on the flip side, at least I learn to be responsible right now. I can’t take care of the everyone, but it is my responsibility, to look after my action and words. That's the least I can do.












