"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed." - Carl Jung
Relationships are one of the most fundamental aspects of human life. We never exist out of relationships; they are the place where we learn about ourselves, define ourselves and express ourselves. Ideally, they are a source of love and support. And yet, relationships are also difficult, puzzling and can be astonishingly hurtful.
The building stone of having good and fulfilling relationships with others, whether it is personally or professionally, is to have developed a solid and loving relationship with ourselves. However life does not always provide solid foundations in this regard. You may come from a family where family history, parental capacity, values, education and/or external circumstances meant that you did not get the opportunity to establish a safe base and a strong connection with yourself. Your personal "wiring" may mean that dealing with others is more often confusing and difficult than it is satisfying.
Even if you received the best possible start, as life unfolds, its complexity and pace increase and you may have arrived at a point where you feel that you have lost touch with yourself and that your relationships with others are suffering.
Issues and questions that often arise in relationship with self and others are: Issues around identity: "Who am I?" They can be related to a sense of discrepancy or unhappiness that pervades your relationships with others as the person you present to the outside world may not reflect accurately the person you are, or want to be. Issues around belonging: "If I am fully myself, will people still love/like me?" This can lead to difficulty in asserting yourself and in communicating clearly what you need and what you want, resulting in frustration, resentment and hurt. Issues around