Relationships are beautiful, whether between people of the same culture or between two people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The latter is also called interfaith, intercultural, bi-racial or interracial relationship.
Furthermore, relationships are strongly embedded within our cultural values and beliefs and impact our thinking, feelings, emotions, perceptions, and behaviours. This is quite an automated process where often we are not fully aware of how we communicate, listen, or act when with others. Our upbringing, how we were treated as a child, and the messages we received about relationships also influence how we relate to others and ourselves. Cultural conditioning is hardwired from birth in all of us and is present throughout our lives and the choices we make, including how we behave as part of a couple.
All relationships can have their issues, yet blending two cultures that share contrasting beliefs and values may lead to some added issues or difficulties, for example, regarding family traditions and ceremonies, child rearing, gender roles, etc. An inter-faith relationship may then prove quite difficult when you have only ever known your culture and are struggling to fully understand and adapt to your partner’s cultural values and belief system. Linguistic issues can also play a vital role in bi-cultural relationships, creating inevitable barriers to communication where feeling understood, heard and seen can be compromised.
Ramsahai Wellbeing offers psychotherapy, life coaching, and mentoring services in the heart of London, near Oxford Circus in Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Camden & Islington and Putney.
