We are somehow conditioned from a very young age to believe in Prince Charming. This fable even helps us, according to some psychiatrists, to get out of the Oedipus complex as we grow up. Believing in a bright future, made of love and children running around, would alleviate the difficulty of separation from the father.
Moreover, we all run after an ideal. Finding the job of your dreams, being surrounded by people who love you, and finding the man who will make you happy forever. It is believed that sentimental failures are just steps on the tortuous path to the kingdom of Prince Charming. After a disappointment in love, how many times have we been treated to the famous line:"He's there somewhere waiting for you"? We continue to believe in it so that we can start all over again, hoping that this time will be the right one. So it's a way like any other to reassure yourself in the face of the unpredictable side of life.
If we believe in Prince Charming, it is also because he is THE solution to all our problems. It is meant to fill a void, make up for our shortcomings, and "fix" us. We think (unconsciously) that meeting this idealized character will be a real revelation. These unrealistic expectations refer to the "Cinderella complex". A concept invented by the American psychologist Colette Dowling, to sum up the fear that some women feel of being independent and taking full responsibility.
Do we really need this figure from fairy tales to fully blossom? Should we sit idly by in "one day my prince will come" mode? Waiting for an imaginary hero to come and extricate us from the clutches of a gloomy daily life? The myth of Prince Charming ultimately gives us false hope, because the man of our dreams is as imperfect as we are!
It is perfectly normal, even healthy to dream of your other half! The key is not to fall into the Prince Charming syndrome, by keeping your feet on the ground. But if by prince charming, we mean a good guy who despite his faults loves us and takes care of us, then why should we refrain from fantasizing about him? All princesses have the right to find their better half, no matter how imperfect! You just have to focus on your qualities, and let the magic of love do the rest...
