It is so interesting that you used the word ‘crutch’ in your post Andy because this is exactly what has come up for me today too.

A realisation dropped for me today regarding a friendship where I was unconscious to the fact that I had become reliant on them to steady me - they had become my emotional crutch.
The person at the time pulled away (unsurprisingly!) and it left me without a mast. It took me some considerable time to recover because I had become so emotionally reliant on them.

Today, with all of these explorations going on, I realised how grateful I am that my friend pulled away because they did me the biggest favour imaginable. I don’t need an emotional crutch and I don’t need an external mast - I am my own mast in the storm!

So grateful for such a deep and illuminating exploration of these issues. The reflections and feedback loops have helped confirm my own experiences.
Nikki ✨