You are not responsible for the feelings of others

Our friends are our friends. We might be socially isolated and therefore unable to share physical space but that doesn’t mean we are completely disconnected. What did your friendships look like before? How will they appear after?

A friend expressed guilt yesterday at this feeling of freedom in the current environment. Freedom from social obligations, freedom from draining relationships, freedom from having to be physically present to support them.

My question for her was simply, “when this is all over, will you still feel responsible for the feelings of others?”

Relationships are two way streets. We give and we receive. But at no point are we responsible for anyone else’s happiness. If we try, we are doing both ourselves and our loved ones a huge disservice.

Learn to stand alone. Your happiness is not dependent upon others. And theirs should not be dependent upon you. Happiness and contentment in who we are will make us much better friends and partners than codependency ever can.