I’ve never had much difficulty mustering affection for people. It seems to come naturally. This has historically been an advantage in that if you like people, in general they like you back. On that basis I have formed many attachments both professional and personal.

However an equally important aspect for me in forming good relationships is that I need to have some kind of identification with, possibly admiration for, what a person stands for i.e. their values, their place in the world, their beliefs, and suchlike. This I do need and in this I am increasingly frustrated. I find it difficult to think of any person with whom I’ve been associated, certainly in recent times, where that aspect is fulfilled. It’s a major block and always stops me progressing. These days it even diminishes the benefits of the first part I mentioned, the affection element in a relationship.

Given that this seems to be so entrenched now, is there some way I can analyse it differently, maybe take an alternative view in order to help undo the stuck-ness? I think, as ever, context is all. If my professional life was back on track then the connections made there would be more likely to have the desired qualities. That’s about as much insight as I can manage on the matter. It’s not a new thought and has as much stuck-ness attached as the block itself.