Dependence

I have observed that different people react differently to others being dependent on them.


Some feel powerful. They consciously or sub-consciously use it as a tool to gain importance. They like people being dependent on them so that they can hold them to ransom and display their importance from time to time.


Some feel superior. They feel proud, sometimes downright vain, as they translate others’ dependence on them as their superior capability.


Some feel bound. They feel completely and irrevocably responsible. Since others are dependent on them, they can never delegate / share / pass on this responsibility, even for a single instance.


Some feel grateful, servile, in fact. Their sense of worth is redeemed by others being dependent on them, in being needed.


All of the above seem extreme responses to me. They seem to lack in balance. To recognise the dependence as being in specific areas, for specific reasons or durations and to respect the dependence for exactly what it is, nothing more and nothing less seems nearly always lacking in people I have known.