In a conversation recently, I mentioned the challenge presented by an idea from Kahlil Gibran’s exceptional poem on children – “Seek to be like them, seek not to make them like you.”
On hearing that, this friend shared that their struggles weren’t in trying to make the kids like them – instead, it was in trying to make the kids an aspirational version of them. It was more pressure than both the kids and the parents could handle – until they sought help.
It was a powerful reflection and one that translates beautifully to many other relationships where the power dynamic at any given time is unbalanced in our favor.
It is tempting to attempt to control and force conformity.
But, it is in the “letting go” and in the ability to absorb the best of those around us where the learning lies.
