Living Room Talk Show on Self Love and Healthy Relationships

BINUS Business School Master Program held a living room talk show discussing self-love and a healthy relationships on Wednesday, 24 June 2020. Collaborating with AI Organizer and Lentera Sintas Indonesia, the talk show titled A Deep Talk about Self-Love and Healthy Relationships: Not All Wounds are Visible was presented by two main spokespeople.

The first spokesperson was Wulan Danoekoesoemo, a Clinical Psychologist, Counseling Section Head of BINUS International, and co-founder of Lentera Sintas Indonesia, an organization that helps the healing process of sexual violence survivors.  The second spokesperson is a BINUS Business School Master Program alumni, Certified Marriage Facilitator, and co-founder of the wedding organizer, Ai Organizer, Dwiana Wahyudi.

Relevant to student’s life

The talk show started with the moderator inviting the Dean of BINUS Business School Master Program, Dr. Rini Setiowati S.E., M.B.A., to give her opening speech. In her short speech, Rini explained the background behind this talk show.

“We are experiencing the same problems. There is a phenomenon where students experience stress, and one of the reasons revolves around relationships” said Rini in her speech. Rini felt there is an underlying cause between the talk show’s topic that night with what most students’ experience in real life.

Each relationship has its own complexity, especially in facing changes and pressure. A variety of problems occur in the workplace, college, or even at home, especially in this COVID-19 pandemic situation.

“In fact, it’s a link between what students are experiencing today, especially during this pandemic. So, hopefully, this kind of knowledge can be useful for them,” concluded Rini in her opening speech. Rini thanked the two spokespeople and moderator before the talk show continued.

Self-love is the key

The talk show was continued with an opening question from the moderator that asked the views and opinions of the two spokespeople regarding self-love. Dwiana responded that self-love is about understanding and forgiving yourself, two things that are difficult to do for most people because it takes a lot of effort.

Agreeing with Dwiana’s point of view, Wulan added while reminding participants that self-love is not an aggressive practice. According to Wulan, self-love is assertive, a condition where someone is fully aware of themself, the state they are in, along with the things they prefer before they take action to help others.

The conversation continued to discuss the importance of self-love. Both spokespeople along with the moderator emphasized that it’s important to live life by bringing happiness to yourself first, especially in the context of making important decisions in life such as career, education, and life partner.

The decision made should not be influenced by other people, but it should be based on consideration of your emotional, physical, and financial needs. This is why self-love is so important. When you know yourself well, you will tend to be prepared and understand what decisions should be made.

Equal in relationship

The conversation continued with a discussion of self-love in the context of romantic relationships. In relationships, self-love is translated as a form of one’s self-worth in a relationship. If both parties are mature and know their self-worth, then the relationship created will be a healthy one; a relationship that puts both people in an equal position. One is not more superior, important, or capable than the other.

Both spokespeople discussed toxic relationships. They explained that toxic relationships are not only marked by physical violence, but it can also be done verbally such as mocking the partner, emphasizing the partner’s flaws, and saying destructive comments continuously to the partner.

A relationship becomes toxic when one person manipulates their existing power. For example, when they control their partner excessively, giving restrictions without a clear reason, and limiting activities, ways to dress, and even ways to think.

That is why the talk show emphasized the statement that not all wounds are visible. The wounds that are formed from toxic relationships are often not visible to the eyes, but can leave a scar and trauma for a long time.

Concluding the living room talk show, both spokespeople reminded all participants to love themselves by getting to know, respecting, and learning to forgive their past mistakes and start over. In the end, we are the ones living our lives, not even our life partner or anyone else.