Topic: Enabling

verb “give (someone or something) the authority or means to do something.”

Isn’t that what we are doing when we try to help people? 

Psychology Today says:

“In one sense, “enabling” has the same meaning as “empowering.” It means lending a hand to help people accomplish things they could not do by themselves. More recently, however, it has developed the specialized meaning of offering help that perpetuates rather than solves a problem. A parent who allows a child to stay home from school because he hasn’t studied for a test is enabling irresponsibility. The spouse who makes excuses for his hungover partner is enabling alcohol abuse. The friend who lends money to a drug addict “so he won’t be forced to steal” is enabling that addiction.” Read more (Good article J)

Much of the on-line info on enabling is specific to “addicts,” but addiction is not only limited to drugs and alcohol. Drama, anger, victimization can all become addictions. 

This is a charged topic, one we’ve all spent some time thinking about.

I’m looking forward to hearing your experiences and thoughts on it.