It can be challenging to find a balance between privacy and support in relationships, be it with our friends, siblings, or children. Everyone deserves privacy, and it's important not to invade people's privacy but also to stay close to our loved ones in order to detect when they need help so we can fill the gap for them in preventing negative uncertainties.
Most people desire to be cared for and loved, yet they also want their privacy. They find it so difficult to open up when issues beyond their control keep knocking, and it becomes so difficult to step in and help them.
Personally, I don't like intruding into someone's private life. I love respecting people's privacy, down to my little kids. One day, my six-year-old son refused me access to his room because he was dressing up, and I was like, What does this little boy know? Hahaha, of course I respected him and waited until he opened the door himself. This is just a casual example. As his mother, I may have just opened the door forcefully and picked up what I wanted, but I understand that even a child has a right to privacy. However, as my kids continue to grow, I will always stay close to their lives, monitoring their behaviors and activities to know when to invade their privacy if needed for the sake of saving their lives from danger. But let's talk about privacy and care among adults.
I feel that if we care for our loved ones, we should also establish quality communication with them. This is one thing that could assist to a large extent in detecting when things aren't going well with them and yet respecting their privacy. For instance, my elder brother is someone I am very close with. Even though we don't stay in the same state, we do chat a lot and speak over the phone, which made it possible for me to detect when his mood changes. Also, with some of my close friends, it's very easy for me to understand them better through communication, and when things aren't going well with them, I could notice it but wouldn't push for them to tell me what the problem is if he or she didn't want to. However, the way I will care for them when I notice that something is not right will make them feel very comfortable.
In the past, one of my friends once said, Nkem, you are the only person I am about to disclose this decision with, all because of how much you have shown me care in my down moments without forcing me to know what transpired. I listened to this lady speak about her intended decision, and I was totally scared of what might happen to her in the next few hours. To say that I acted like a soldier that very day is an understatement. She lived alone and wanted to act stupid just because a man disappointed her. She was so heavy in her heart, kept secret her next plan, and kept dying of depression until the day she wanted to act. I was glad I noticed how depressed she was, stepped in, and helped her out of the mess. For one day, I didn't force myself into her privacy; I only maintained good communication with her, detected her mood change, showed her love and care with positive affirmations, and she opened up to me. This is the way I have been dealing with people and their privacy.
Back to my brother, it was the same effective communication that helped me notice when things weren't going well with him, and to cut a long story short, he was able to see a therapist and became okay; if not, he was like, There is no need to live again; let him just end it once and for all.
In conclusion, the importance of respecting people's privacy can never be overstated, but I feel that not pushing people to open up to us but rather maintaining good communication with them and showing them care would make them more comfortable and maybe decide to open up willingly, and then we can step in to help; otherwise, if I detect danger, I wouldn't mind invading into the person's privacy when his life is at risk.
All images were taken from canva