Understanding how commitment to a role (parenthood, vocation, relationship) can feel both liberating and imprisoning simultaneously.
Sor Juana entered the convent by choice, seeking freedom from marriage and societal expectation—yet found herself confined by the institution's demands. Parenthood mirrors this paradox: you choose to become a parent (or accept it), gaining profound meaning and connection, yet experience real losses of freedom, solitude, and spontaneity. Sor Juana's life illuminates how chosen confinement differs from imposed constraint, yet both require psychological navigation. Parents often struggle with guilt for resenting aspects of a role they chose. Her example validates that ambivalence is rational: you can love your child deeply while grieving the person you no longer have time to be. The paradox isn't a failure of commitment; it's the honest texture of any transformative choice. Acknowledging it prevents the denial that breeds resentment.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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