Parenting and Family
Does needing personal space mean I do not love my family or partner enough?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
No. However close two people are, they have individual thoughts, habits and needs. Treasure shared time and enjoy time alone too. Constant togetherness is not a requirement for affection.
After returning to Yilan to work with mother, Dao Fan discovered a need for privacy. Earlier, working away and returning occasionally mostly revealed a gentle side. Working together by day and living together afterwards brought more friction. Affection remained, but daily contact clarified the need for some distance.
Deities taught us every soul is independent, including parents, children and partners. I understand this as learning to accommodate another, not make them identical to us. Since people differ, leaving solitary time is also part of relating.
Explain what space you need. It does not permit breaking shared commitments, but requires arrangements acceptable to both. Pausing to calm down during conflict is possible, while explaining your meaning and returning to discussion later.
A practitioner shared that being home together all day did not especially increase marital arguments. Each did their own things without excessive interference and allowed space. Sharing a location need not mean doing the same activity every moment. Comfortable interaction depends on actual arrangements, not only hours together.