It balances very well. I'm an individual first and foremost, and my interests are my primary concern. But I'm an individual within a larger story. My story is my own, but it's constantly bumping into and out of other stories, shaping them and being shaped by them. So, if I want my story and life to be positively impacted, then it's to my benefit that it's being touched by people with a positive impact, and the way I support them impacts their ability to support me. So what steps can I take to ensure I maximize my chances of interacting with people that will benefit my life? Well, I need to understand that we're all in this together to some degree, humans are communal creatures, and we benefit in groups. So by ensuring that the people in my group are supported, I help strengthen them, and as a strong person, they're able to help strengthen me, and we can create this positive feedback loop that serves both of us. When that happens, I help to create situations in which my growth is fostered and encouraged. Also, supporting people is part of my growth. My growth isn't a purely selfish, narcissistic endeavor. My growth is for me, but also for those around me. I find a deep meaning in not only finding out who I am and what I want to be, but also by being influenced by people I admire, and also by helping them to be what they want to be. I'm not entirely sure I could properly grow without some level of interdependence and mutual support.

How does your perspective on individual growth within a relationship balance with the understanding of interdependence and mutual support?