Am I Care-giving or Am I Care-taking?

A brief definition of enabling is when we do for someone else what they can – and actually should – be doing for themselves.  When we care-take others, we are frequently leaving our own needs on the back burner on a fairly consistent basis. When we are care-givers, we are assisting those who truly need our help because they cannot manage something on their own. Care-taking generally builds codependent relationships and helps only to keep people stuck.  Care-giving helps to develop healthy, respectful relationships where both people can be who they really are.