SLC-S24/W5 - Thoughts and reflections

_{Taken By Smartphone}

Hello steemians!

I'm excited to participate this week in the reflection competition offered by the Ladies Universe community. Topic 1 particularly resonates with me, as it evokes universal experiences of generosity, expectation, and disappointment. Here, then, is my personal contribution to this important debate.

Life often offers us its most valuable lessons through steep paths strewn with painful trials. Amanda's story echoes my own memories and takes me back to a time when I, too, gave everything of myself to someone who, unfortunately, wasn't willing to make the slightest effort in return. Reflecting on this, I vividly recall my friendship with Nesrine.

Nesrine and I met during our university studies, a period of my life marked by discovery and enthusiasm. Our friendship quickly intensified, driven by her charismatic personality, her ability to attract others, and my sincere admiration for her social ease and self-confidence. Whenever she faced a crisis or obstacle, whether it was a painful breakup, financial difficulties, or even a simple moment of existential doubt, I was the first to offer her my support, my attentive listening, my unconditional encouragement, and sometimes even substantial material support, I firmly believed in unconditional and authentic friendship, never expecting or demanding anything in return, convinced that true friendship is nourished by pure generosity.

However, over time, I began to notice a deep and worrying imbalance: Nesrine only contacted me when she needed help or advice, disappearing completely from my daily life and avoiding all contact as soon as I myself was going through complicated periods, whether on a personal, academic or professional level, this realization was brutally imposed one day when I was faced with a particularly difficult personal crisis, a situation where I desperately needed the support and listening of a faithful friend, hoping to find in her the support that I had always given her without reservation, I was deeply upset and disillusioned to note her total absence, Nesrine did not answer my calls or my messages, leaving me alone, deeply hurt, betrayed and helpless in the face of this painful reality, at that precise moment, I understood that giving everything without any reciprocity could lead to real emotional self-destruction and a profound questioning of my own value.

Do you think giving everything is a mistake, or, on the contrary, does it become a wonderful experience when there is reciprocity? Justify your answer.

Giving everything in itself is not necessarily a mistake, it only becomes problematic when the generosity and efforts made are neither recognized nor valued by the other party, human relationships are fundamentally based on mutual respect, trust and reciprocity, without which total commitment quickly becomes a source of frustration, emotional exhaustion, disillusionment and loss of self, on the other hand, when feelings and efforts are mutual, giving oneself entirely strengthens bonds, intensifies emotional connections, promotes reciprocal personal growth, and enriches the human experience in a deeply fulfilling way, thus contributing to a more harmonious and balanced life.

Do you think giving everything is a mistake, or on the contrary, when it's reciprocated, it's nice to give everything. Justify your answer.?

Giving all of oneself is not inherently a mistake; quite the contrary, it can even be the noblest expression of our humanity, a sincere manifestation of our capacity to love, to invest ourselves body and soul in a relationship, whether friendly, familial, or romantic, it is an act of surrendering oneself to another, motivated by trust, hope, and the conviction that this deep commitment brings meaning, reciprocity, and mutual enrichment, however, this approach, while generous and well-intentioned, can become fertile ground for emotional suffering when it fails to resonate with the other person, when the gestures made, the sacrifices made, the listening, the presence, the energy, and the time invested are neither recognized, valued, nor reciprocated, thus creating an unbalanced relationship in which the giver, always waiting for an emotional return or a simple sign of recognition, ends up becoming internally exhausted, sometimes sinking into frustration, self-doubt, loss of self-esteem, and even a form of painful emotional dependence.

Conversely, when a sincere and reciprocal bond is built, in which each act of love or concern is perceived, welcomed, and returned with sincerity and generosity, then the act of giving everything becomes not only a source of happiness, but also a vector of personal and mutual development, where the two individuals grow together in a dynamic of harmony, support and shared kindness, in this perspective, giving everything becomes a luminous, intense and deeply fulfilling experience, where one feels understood, respected, carried and enriched by the presence of the other.

Do you think giving everything allows people to take advantage of hurting the other person's feelings?

Unfortunately, it is undeniable that this excessive generosity often exposes the individual to significant risks of emotional and psychological exploitation. Human nature, sometimes opportunistic and unpredictable, can easily perceive boundless kindness as an exploitable weakness, leading some people to manipulate or unscrupulously take advantage of the situation, considering that kindness and support are definitively acquired, regardless of their own behavior or actions, this unhealthy dynamic inevitably leads to profound emotional distress for the giver, creating a painful inner void, a progressive deterioration of self-esteem, a general loss of trust in oneself and others, and ultimately, leaving lasting emotional scars that are sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to fully overcome without significant inner work and adequate external support.

My reflexion:

My experience with Nesrine taught me a fundamental lesson about the vital importance of knowing how to set clear boundaries in any interpersonal relationship. Authentic and healthy generosity should never imply total self-forgetfulness or neglect of one's own needs and aspirations, on the contrary, it requires constant awareness of one's own worth, vigilance regarding one's emotional boundaries, and careful discernment to avoid falling into emotional dependency where the other offers neither reciprocity nor true recognition. Thus, it is essential to preserve one's emotional integrity and self-esteem, while continuing to offer love and support with caution and balance.

A quote that applies to this topic:
"Never consume yourself to keep others warm."

This phrase perfectly sums up the necessary balance between generosity and self-preservation. Giving is certainly noble and rewarding, but it should never be detrimental to our emotional and mental health.

Life and relationships require this delicate balance, you can give your best, but never forget to protect your heart, because ultimately, true strength lies in the ability to give wisely and to love yourself enough to recognize the precise moment when it becomes necessary to let go and give yourself the priority you truly deserve.

---

Thank you very much for reading, it's time to invite my friends @sualeha, @drhira, @shiftitamanna to participate in this contest.

Best Regards,
@kouba01