I complain about emotional labor but analyze this: what if I'm addicted to being needed? Map every emotional labor task I do and ask: did anyone ask me to do this? Did they need me to do this? Or do I insert myself into emotional management because it makes me feel valuable? Then expose the truth: maybe people aren't dumping emotional labor on me - maybe I'm taking it because without it, I don't know who I am. I'm not a victim of others' emotional needs, I'm creating them. I solve problems no one asked me to solve, manage emotions no one asked me to manage, and then resent people for "making me" do it. Show me where emotional labor is forced on me vs. where I volunteer for it to feel important. Include: what I'd lose if people didn't need me, who I'd be if I wasn't the emotional problem-solver, and whether I'm being exploited or exploiting neediness for significance.