I first wrote this post a while ago, and I’m sharing it now because it has come up often recently, and now is such a time of change. A couple of months ago, someone asked me these questions (paraphrasing):
Is it normal for certain people in your life to feed off your light and potential, yet see your potential, and express impatience for you to achieve your goals, but also play a part in pushing you into previous negative patterns?
Can those we love be the biggest catalyst in our growth?
Yes, there’s no question: Those we love are most often our biggest catalysts for growth!
These questions could describe a wound-mate relationship (as opposed to a soul-mate relationship). Wound-mates can be spouses, parents, children, friends, co-workers, etc., and so can soul-mates.
What is a wound-mate relationship? A wound-mate relationship is one in which each partner, generally without trying whatsoever, brings to the surface in the other person whatever core wounds each took on in the first seven years of life. The four main core wounds are: not being seen, not being heard, not feeling loved or lovable, and not feeling nurtured or feeling over-nurtured (thus not feeling safe).