Co-dependence – I recognize this quality surprisingly often; it’s one of those qualities that’s easy for me to see. I am thankful that it is less prominent in my own interactions as my personal evolution progresses.
What I tend to come across is a misunderstanding of self love. There is either a selfishness with no humility, no regard for another or a displacement of caring onto another, with little regard for ones own needs. In fact, I come across couples (and have been such a couple) who embody each of these qualities – polarized ends of the spectrum. Void of a middle way and primarily meeting the needs of ego.
When I am practicing mindful awareness there is a self care that addresses more than my egoic needs – It’s a befriending of the “good, the bad and the ugly”. A true self respect
Here is a teaching by Sharon Salzberg with a quote by the Buddha and Walt Whitman.
I hope it continues to foster your own self compassion, as it has mine.
The practice of metta (lovingkindness), uncovering the force of love that can uproot fear, anger, and guilt, begins with befriending ourselves. The foundation of metta practice is to know how to be our own friend. According to the Buddha, “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” How few of us embrace ourselves in this way! With metta practice we uncover the possibility of truly respecting ourselves. We discover, as Walt Whitman put it, “I am larger and better than I thought. I did not think I held so much goodness.”
–Sharon Salzberg, Lovingkindness
Just 1 Foot in Yellow 
Excellent post! “What I tend to come across is a misunderstanding of self love. There is either a selfishness with no humility, no regard for another or a displacement of caring onto another, with little regard for ones own needs. In fact, I come across couples (and have been such a couple) who embody each of these qualities – polarized ends of the spectrum.” <<– This serves as a much needed reminder to take care of my personal needs of self and not to get lost in taking care of others. It’s like the instruction on the airplane to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others put theirs on. Thank you for the much needed reminder!
I love the oxygen mask analogy because when I take time out of my day to sit (meditate and BREATHE) – it is a foundation for self care – everything else seems to eventually find its “right place”. When I do not, I tend to get lost.
We’re here all together! Thank you, great post!