Categories
inspiration

Life = Relationships

God knew we would need relationships, so He made sure we were born into one!

We didn’t choose the family we were born into. However, for different reasons some wish they had a different family.

Family is not necessarily biological; that is, someone does not need to be related by blood in order to be(come) family.

As we grow older we develop bonds with others and generally come to choose our friends and partners. Some will choose to ‘go it alone’; however, the reality is that having healthy relationships help provide an overall state of better mental health.

Relationships provide a support system for us, and while we would hope some will last forever, life sometimes has other plans. Sometimes people come into our lives for different reasons which, once fulfilled, causes the relationship to dissipate, and then they leave.

If someone chooses to leave, think about whether you are prepared to do whatever it takes in an attempt to change their minds. Most likely, once someone has decided to leave, nothing you can do will let them change their mind, so let them.

We sometimes grieve at the loss, but it is important that we accept this reality early, so that we can move on.

Our goal should be to protect the relationships we value and do our part to be fair and reasonable in our interactions. Once someone has moved on, let them go and draw strength and support from those relationships in your life that happen to be going well.

Relationships are a means by which we can state: “We’re all in this together.”
Categories
individual differences relationships

I AM UNIQUE (Just Like Everybody Else)

One of the most empowering self-discoveries is: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made; I am unique.”

We are all the same, and yet at the same time profoundly unique.

The way we relate to others often says a lot about how we perceive others and ourselves.

Human nature tends to force us to relate in a manner consistent with our views of others and our views of ourselves. The aim is to minimize or even eliminate, any dissonance generated by any difference between our views and our actions.

Those who are caught up in their own bloated sense of self-importance tend to be arrogant, boastful, and condescending to others with a strong sense of entitlement that is beyond that which is reasonable.

On the other hand, showing genuine patience, kindness and respect to others typically demonstrates self-confidence, humility, and a recognition of one’s humanity. It also demonstrates an awareness that we are all flawed, having the propensity to fail as human beings – just like everybody else.

So in a nutshell:

One of the most empowering self-discoveries is: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made; I am unique.”

One of the most humbling realizations to have is: So is everyone else!

One of the most powerful lessons from this awareness is: “Everyone else” is NOT the only one with flaws…I do too! So I will be humble and gracious in the way I interact with others, regardless of what I perceive to be their ‘flaws.’

#humility #humilityinaction #unique #bekind #allthesame