This is not always an easy path. The ordinary provides safety. The extraordinary can stir vulnerability. To choose authenticity means risking being misunderstood, standing apart, or confronting long-buried truths. But it also offers vitality, passion, and meaning.

The reason therapists like me talk about attachment is that these early childhood relationships prime people’s future relationships. The patterns don’t disappear simply because a person got older. That means in adulthood, the person is still anxious. In their romantic relationships, they have a frequent need for reassurance. They may want to call or text often and have trouble tolerating physical and emotional distance.

Healthy relationships thrive when both partners can hold the complexity of I didn’t mean to and it still hurt. True intimacy grows in the space where we take responsibility for our impact, even when our intentions were loving. Over time, this practice builds trust, safety, and a deeper sense of being known.