Interdependence

In our lives we go through three main types of relationships with others. When we're children we're dependent on our parents and family for our needs to be met and to help us to define who we are. As we develop into adolescence, we move into much more of a state of independence from our family, (and particularly our parents!) as we explore our own personality, desires and potential. Finally, if we allow ourselves to develop a mature, healthy emotional relationship with others we come into a state of interdependence, where we understand our interdependence with all other life on this planet and the ability to acknowledge that we all depend on each other for our survival. That, as we connect more with each other, we not only can ask for our needs to be met in a healthy way, we can also willingly and courageously support others in our lives who, in their turn, need help.