Emotional freedom is the state of being mentally free from feelings of anxiety, fear, guilt, anger, sadness, or shame. It means that individuals can express themselves without restrictions or limitations. On the contrary, relational dependence implies an emotional bond between people who are mutually connected. They may be dependent on each other for love, affection, support, care, attention, or even financial stability.
This relationship can become unhealthy when one person becomes more reliant on the other than the other way around. When it comes to emotions, this dependence might lead to a lack of emotional freedom. Individuals may feel restricted in their expression because they need to consider the needs and desires of the partner.
In this case, there is no true emotional freedom. The individual cannot fully experience his/her own emotions freely due to the dependence on the other person's reaction.
If you have strong feelings of jealousy towards your partner but he/she does not share them back, then you will suppress those emotions and keep them inside. As a result, you will start feeling guilty for having such thoughts. You might think that by doing so, you are showing how much you love and respect your partner. Nevertheless, this is not healthy. Emotional freedom is necessary for mental well-being, which involves recognizing and accepting our emotions.
Some people might depend emotionally on their partners to the point where they do not feel comfortable expressing themselves unless their partner approves. This can lead to a loss of identity and self-esteem. Therefore, being able to experience emotional freedom within relational dependence requires open communication and trust. Couples should work together to develop healthy boundaries without compromising each other's independence.
They should also learn to validate each other's feelings and accept criticism constructively instead of defensively. In other words, it takes effort from both parties to achieve a balance between mutual support and emotional freedom.
Being dependent on someone does not mean giving up on one's autonomy or self-expression. It means finding a middle ground where we can rely on each other without losing ourselves in the process. Emotional freedom allows us to be honest with ourselves and others while building healthy relationships based on mutual understanding and appreciation.
What does it mean to experience emotional freedom within relational dependence?
The state of being emotionally free is characterized by an individual's ability to express their feelings openly and honestly while maintaining healthy relationships with others. In such a situation, people can form strong bonds with each other despite having differing personalities or opinions. They are able to accept one another's uniqueness and build on that foundation for mutual growth.