A needy child says: End my loneliness.
A healthy adult says: Be my companion while both of us respect each other’s need to be alone at time.
A needy child says: Make me feel good.
A healthy adult says: I take responsibility for my own feelings and don’t expect or need to feel good all the time.
A needy child says: Give in to me.
A healthy adult says: Negotiate with me.
A needy child says: Never betray me, lie to me, or disappoint me.
A healthy adult says: I accept you as fallible and seek to address, process, and resolve issues with you.
A needy child says: Help me not to have fear.
A healthy adult says: Help me learn to love.
A needy child says: I depend on you.
A healthy adult says: We depend on each other.
A needy child says: Totally fulfill my needs.
A healthy adult says: Moderately fulfill my needs.
A needy child says: Help me repeat old, painful scenarios from childhood and former relationships.
A healthy adult says: I have mourned the past, learned from it, and now want something better.
A needy child says: Indulge my ego.
A healthy adult says: Confront and free my ego.