When we try to control what other people think of us, how they treat us, or how they behave… we end up drained. It’s not just frustrating — it’s neurologically exhausting. The constant effort of managing variables outside of your influence keeps the stress response activated, fuels anxiety, and worsens rumination. This isn’t just a vibes-based opinion — it’s backed by research.

Jung believed we gravitate toward people who reflect the aspects of ourselves we haven’t acknowledged—often traits we’ve repressed or disowned. If you’re endlessly drawn to someone emotionally unavailable or controlling, it may be because those traits exist within your own psyche, unintegrated.

Small studies have hinted that the human-animal bond can reduce loneliness, foster social connection, and even improve cognitive focus.