In the book Take Your Life Back, there’s a concept we call relational dictatorship. Some of you need to take your life back from a relational dictator who thinks they know what is best for you. Either a wife or a husband can be a dictator. Sometimes a parent can still be the dictator; and their adult child (which is an apt description) can be married with children of their own, but they’re locked into their own childhood by the parent who won’t let go and allow them to individuate into a full-fledged adult.

What happens when we’re in a relational dictatorship? We’re stunted in our growth as a person, and we’re ruled by our emotions. There’s nothing wrong with emotions, but they’re not meant to rule our lives. Why? Because when we’re ruled by our emotions, we’re living a reactive lifestyle and we’re reacting to the dictator. [Read more…]