A Couple’s Journey Towards Self-Validation

In Indian culture, social connections are highly valued. Since childhood, we are taught the importance of family, friends, and community for our happiness, well-being, and overall success. Indian culture encourages relationships within the family and the community hence people experience a lot of pressure in the need to maintain these relationships. In the colourful fabric of Indian society, where social connections often determine a person’s value, some couples go against the norm.

A new generation of couples is emerging to redefine their relations. They are deciding to embrace loneliness, or at least a tremendously low circle of friends, contrary to the modern world’s belief that the more friends one has, the happier one will be. Some have decided to share their life with a couple of people, or even nobody at all, relying only on themselves and being able to feel content being alone. Concisely, this article looks deeper into these couples, the process of familiarity with the world’s relationships, and the capacity for self-affirmation. Such couples are not lonely but have been able to cope and find happiness with their spouses. They have been made aware of the fact that happiness does not originate as an effect of material gains.

The desire to avoid loneliness can sometimes lead people to seek companionship in unhealthy or harmful ways, which can result in a variety of unwanted complications. However, as these couples testify, their deep connection and the value of meaningful relationships within a society suggest that quality should take precedence over quantity.”They have experienced fake friendships, rivalry, jealousy, and struggling to meet the expectations of others. These experiences have shown them that instead of worrying about making an impression or fitting into accepted cultural norms, they should seek out people who genuinely care and understand them.”

A few Case Studies:

Anamika and Kumaran are in their late fifties; they are willing to live a minimalist life. They have limited people they can associate with being more of relatives and friends but I understand that they have to spend most of their time together. For instance, Anamika who is a writer needs solitude for her to develop her material and come up with a story. Kumaran who is an entrepreneur stated that he preferred this because with fewer distractions there is always time for some serenity. They have become able to work on the small things that make life beautiful such as preparing meals together, going for nature walks, and being in each other’s company. They have discovered that they have carved a bond out of their co-dependency and as partners, they can comfort each other.

Let us take an illustration of Vikram and Maya, a couple in their forties staying in Chennai. Vikram has previously worked as a professor and for this reason, has been able to gather practical knowledge on the alterations in the academia as well as the adversities experienced by young researchers. Maya works as a social worker and she understands suffers of different minorities and unfairness in society. The accounts of their lives and the encounters they have had give them opinions about relationships and ESPECIALLY about the difference between real and fake.

Let’s have a look at the case of Arun and Priya, a couple in their late thirties from Mumbai. While their peers go out to partying and social events during the weekends, it is more agreeable to Arun and Priya to just stay in and read books or watch movies. They have purposefully decided to have few friends and not many friends even if the friends are real.

Arun & Priya have come to understand that in the process of seeking acceptance from people, they end up forming very shallow associations. This generation has seen time in its social gatherings and even in its close friendships the drama, the deceit, and the toxic people in large groups. Through it, they succeed in achieving a new level of self-awareness enabling them to focus on one’s satisfaction rather than following other people’s judgments.

For instance, Ashwin and Nisha are both in their early 30s, and they are staying in Bangalore. Ashwin is a great lover of gardening and takes a lot of time to attend to his vegetables. Nisha is a good painter and sculptor who paints and sculpts Detailed paintings and sculptures. Thus, their hobbies help them to find a purpose and receive the emotional needful satisfaction while having fun.

These couples have discovered that in life, friendships and relationships that are sacred mean a lot. They do not shy away from being picky and being specific with the type of people they associate with or partners that they choose.

Understanding Worldly Relationships

Such couples have learnt the realities of human nature and the dynamics of human relationships. They have seen how people interact, how individuals can influence others, work with one another, how one can control others, and how quickly trust can be gained and lost. The complexities of interpersonal relationships, the power of biases, and the potential for misunderstandings.

Their keen understanding of human nature has allowed them to approach their interactions with a greater degree of empathy, compassion, and discernment. Such understanding has helped them by enabling them to set certain limits that would help in avoiding negative relationship situations.

The Quest for Authentic Connections

Their journey began with a shared disillusionment with the superficiality of modern relationships. These couples had witnessed firsthand the drama, betrayal, and fleeting nature of friendships based on external factors like social status, wealth, or popularity. Their experiences led them to question the value of having a large circle of acquaintances and instead focus on cultivating genuine, meaningful connections.

The Strength in Solitude

Through this option, these couples feel they have made the best decision ever because they get total freedom and no accountability. They are no longer answerable to specific other people’s expectations and needs. It allows them to ‘drive’ the process, set personal objectives, follow personal interests or simply live as they please. They were able to find out that loneliness not only is beneficial but it also helps in gaining personality transformation.

”When you have limited company, it involves dealing with your thoughts, emotions, and fears. While this can be challenging, it can also be liberating, allowing you to develop a deeper understanding of yourself and your place in the world.”

One of the most attractive qualities of this trend is the ability to enhance the relations between the two partners. When a person is in a relationship with their partner whom they know understands and embraces them for who they are then they tend to be safe, appreciated, and supported.

This means these couples have come to understand the importance of the experiences they go through together as well as the bond they share. They have learned that love does not have to be similar but there should be trust, respect, and the possibility to share the main goals and visions, to be transformers in each other’s lives during failures and achievements.

The Power of Self-Validation

The whole basis of these couples is self-validation and the grounding of it in the two selves. These show how they have embraced self–esteem, self–worth, and self–respect. They are not in the constant search of praise or a sign that they have the competence to be as efficient as they are. But they derive their strength from their own self alone.

Self-validation helps these couples to persevere in responding to the challenges that life may bring. They are not shy of coming to their own conclusions, and this could mean going against the trend that everybody is setting. They believe in themselves and are willing to challenge others.

They have learned to manage their time and energy wisely, focusing on activities that bring them joy, fulfilment, and personal growth. They have also cultivated a sense of independence, recognizing that they can find happiness and contentment within themselves, even in the absence of external validation.

The Wonders of a Restricted Network

Having few close friends is not totally bad, I will discuss it here. It can help decrease anxiety, enhance mental health as well as promote the general health of an individual. When you have fewer people to maintain relationships with, you can devote more time and energy to nurturing those connections, leading to more meaningful and fulfilling interactions. This reduced social circle also decreases the likelihood of experiencing negative emotions stemming from comparisons with others and feelings of envy. Further, they may get to know fewer numbers of people, which may have associated risks, but they may also have a level of predictability to them. This way you know who you have when in need and who will always be there to help you.

Challenges and Considerations

Having fewer casual friends and acquaintances can be beneficial as it allows for easier management of social interactions. However, it’s essential to find ways to maintain meaningful connections, even when time is limited. It’s important to stay true to yourself and not feel pressured to conform to societal expectations, while also seeking support from understanding individuals.

A New Way of Life happens when your life undergoes change and you accept a new way of living.

The choice to limit close connections reflects cultural changes stemming from globalization and heightened individual independence.

It signals an understanding that true happiness is not solely determined by the number of friends one has, but by the depth of those friendships and personal growth. By opting for solitude and cherishing time with their partners, these couples are challenging societal norms and paving the way for a new perspective.

Among the salient features of these couple’s lives, perhaps, none is as fascinating as how they successfully live their lives alone. They don’t feel lonely and do not need outside intervention to constantly engage and entertain themselves. They have invested in interests and activities that would give them pleasure and wholesome entertainment.

Nutshell

Couples like these have a positive impact in a world where everything is often measured by superficial standards. They have learned to find joy in each other’s presence and prioritize their own happiness, independent of the approval of others. This has led to greater freedom, self-sufficiency, and more meaningful connections in their lives. They have come to value the quality of their relationships over the quantity, understanding that authenticity is the key to true companionship.

Their decision to limit their social circle is not a rejection of human connection but rather a conscious choice to prioritize quality over quantity. By cultivating self-validation, understanding human nature, and embracing the comfort of solitude, they have created a strong and enduring bond that is based on mutual respect, trust, and a deep sense of shared purpose. Their stories serve as a reminder that true happiness and fulfilment can be found within ourselves, regardless of the size of our social circle.

• _{Please use the comment box to let me know whether you enjoyed reading the article and agree with my interpretations of it. I’m grateful.}