Love can get lost in translation.

Dana Wang, MD explores how difficulty identifying and expressing emotions can shape the way we communicate love, especially between parents and adult children.

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What is alexithymia?

Alexithymia describes difficulty identifying and putting feelings into words. A person may feel deeply yet struggle to recognize or express those emotions. In families, this can show up as major gaps between how they feel, what they mean to say, what they actually say, and what their loved ones hear.

How does it affect the way we interpret love?

Care may be expressed through practical actions, advice, worry, or sacrifice, while the person receiving it may experience pressure, criticism, or emotional distance. Emotional translation invites us to explore what are the feelings beneath the words, while acknowledging the impact of how those words land. Understanding someone’s intentions does not mean dismissing hurtful behavior. But it does give us more choices to respond differently.

Ring 1 — Macro-Culture: History, Politics, Economy, National Identity

The broadest layer of culture shaped by national and global forces.

This includes major historical events, political climates, economic systems, and a country’s founding ideals. These forces form the backdrop of our lives, subtly influencing our values, assumptions, and worldview.

Ring 2 — Subculture: Ethnicity, Community, Institutions, Belonging

The cultural environments we belong to within larger society.

This includes ethnic identity, religious affiliation, regional customs, and institutional cultures such as those of schools or workplaces. These groups give us shared norms, language, and expectations that shape our sense of belonging.

Ring 3 — Social Identity: Perception, Roles, Reputation, Acquaintances

How we are perceived by acquaintances and the public.

This layer includes colleagues, casual friends, and those who know us from a distance — people who form impressions based on roles, appearance, or reputation. It reflects how we are socially positioned and understood at a surface level.

Ring 4 — Relational Culture: Family, Intimacy, Emotional Bonds, Personal History

Our close relationships and the meanings created within them.

This includes family members, close friends, and people who have known us deeply over time. These relationships shape our emotional landscape, internalized roles, and the stories we carry about who we are.

Ring 5 — Self-Culture: Inner Dialogue, Values, Meaning, Identity

Our internal world of meaning-making and self-perception.

This innermost layer includes our inner dialogue, personal values, memories, aspirations, and beliefs about identity and purpose. It reflects how we see ourselves, make sense of our lives, and navigate the world from within.

Personal transformation ripples outward. When we shift our inner beliefs, values, and narratives, it softens how we speak, deepens how we relate, and reshapes how we move through the world. When enough of us awaken from within, our individual shifts gather momentum —forming a collective wave strong enough to transform the macroculture into one where we can better love and care for one another.

Your childhood leaves clues

Take this free short quiz to explore how your early bonds shaped the way you relate today.

The answer offers insight to the emotional blueprint you grew up with. You will get Dr. Wang’s personal interpretation of the result from a blend of evidence based research study and her clinical expertise.

Start Quiz

  • "Many of us are walking the path blindfolded and feeling alone; Dr. Wang's words are illuminating the way.”

    — JL (Audience)

  • "Dr. Wang's work not only captures the intergenerational tension that is prevalent in Chinese culture but also highlights the importance of healing the inner child in trauma therapy. It is so full of learning points that it is a must-read for all clinicians! "

    --Dr. KY (Psychiatrist)

  • “I found Dr. Wang's story so moving, and reflective of many of the challenges of mother-daughter relationships I have known in my community. I cannot say how many times my own mother has carefully peeled and cut fruit for me instead of saying "I'm sorry."

    --RS DNP, PMHNP-BC (Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner)

  • "Working with Dr. Wang is like being in a dark room and slowly watching the sun come up.”

    --MD (Patient)


  • "Dr. Wang changed the way I saw the world. She has been with me through various phases of my life, and I cannot thank her enough for opening me up to new ways of thinking "

    --SY (Patient)

  • “To write something that many 1st and 2nd generation immigrants would never say out loud let alone write about it for others to read and feel that they aren't alone is remarkable.”

    --PP (Manager)


  • "Dr. Wang's talk was deeply inspiring. It resonated so much and many of us were moved to tears."

    --SW (head of Non-profit organization)

  • "Thank you Dr. Wang for your stories, your insights, and for holding space for such a deeply honest dialogue around identity, mental health, and cultural expectations."

    --DA (AAPI event organizer)


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