Sometimes…
Rescuing others is an indirect way of saying they can’t do it themselves — that they are not capable. This is also indirectly disrespecting their potential, specially if they don’t asked to be rescued in the first place.
Rescuing feels good and it’s in line with what we are taught — to help others and not be selfish. If we are capable of fixing someone’s world then we should because… well — they can’t do it themselves right? Wrong.
A movie comes to mind of how we act this out because it’s the right thing to do… that movie is – Forrest Gump.
Forrest plays our “we want to rescue everyone” self and Lieutenant Dan and Jaayneee play the rescued. Lt. Dan was in the battlefield ready to die with valor and Forrest comes and rescues him. Jenny was singing at the bar when she started being harassed by the guys and Forrest jumps in to rescue her.
Forrest was just helping them out, yet both Lt. Dan and Jenny felt disrespected, resentful and lashed out at Forrest.
Rescuing is disrespect — sometimes.