Society and culture put the burden on the eldest son to become the sacrificial lamb for the happiness of the parents

There is often a greater pressure placed on the eldest son in the family, no matter which culture or religion you belong to.

It is often looked upon as a duty you must fulfill to carry the burden of your parents in their old age and as a result, you must make choices that only align you with that purpose.

If you are the eldest son in your family, you have probably felt this. You have likely sacrificed your own happiness for your parents.

Some sacrifices include, not being able to be in a profession of your own choosing, not choosing your own partner, or not living in a place of your liking so you stay close to your parents.

You have also likely felt the pressure from society to fulfill this role in order to be granted the title of a good and caring son.

The reason most would succumb to this pressure is because of childhood trauma and wounding. There is a deep-rooted desperation in many that to get the love and acceptance of their parents, they will go to any extreme.

Some even end their relationships with their partners for the sake of their parent’s happiness. This is because most of us weren’t loved unconditionally by our parents, and therefore feel that if we do just one more thing, we will be worthy of their love.

What you need to realize is that you already ARE worthy, and contrary to popular belief, it is NOT your duty to keep your parents happy.

In always trying to do things for the sake of your parents’ happiness, you WILL lose yourself.

This is your life to live for yourself. It is not to make sure you do all that you can to check off the boxes because as you do, your parents will continue to add even more.

It is a never-ending vicious cycle and the best way to escape it is to heal your wounds.

Learn to love and empower yourself so that you make the choices that are most aligned with you, not with anyone else’s version of you.