5 Things to Learn From Our Relationships
Relationships are the heartbeat of our human experience, and often are a mirror to see ourselves: what we lack, what we want more of, who we are, and who we are not. In today's busy world, we have plenty of relationships to expose the contrast of the things we don't like, and the pleasure of the things we do like.
This concept can be a little hard to grasp at first introduction, so let's break it down into five key things that we can learn from our relationships:
1. Relationships are more than just romantic
We often tend to categorize "relationships" as being romantic, but they extend far beyond the traditional idea of dating. We have relationships with our friends. enemies, families, pets, and colleagues. Going a little deeper, we have a relationship with our ego; the little voice inside our head that tells us we need to "play it safe", or let's not forget the relationship you have with your money and your career! It's hard to let go of things that are physical, emotional, and mental because over the years, we've developed an emotional relationship with it. Think about Wilson and Tom Hanks in Cast Away, does anyone remember the pain Tom's character felt when he lost the blood-stained volleyball?
2. Everyone's traits are a reflection of you own.
Imagine that you had a magic mirror that when you put it up to people it would show you the exact traits of that person that you see in yourself. For example, you get called into a meeting with your boss who always yells at you. Initially you might think, "I don't like him, I don't ever want to be like him because he makes me feel bad when he yells at me." But let's dig a little deeper; how possible is it that you're witnessing a trait in them that you'd like to have more of: self expression? Perhaps you're angry because he can express himself and you don't? When you experience envy, jealously, or anger, it's possible that you're seeing a reflection of traits you desire to express.
3. Relationships have purpose.
They may not always be enjoyable, or pleasant, but they are here for a reason and if you look back at each of your relationships, can you honestly say you didn't experience at least some sort of joy or growth during the relationship? Relationships can be some of life's toughest, but best lessons. Some will come for a short time, while others will last a lifetime. Sometimes, people show up to act as catalysts for your growth by pushing your buttons, hurting you, or pushing you in directions you hadn't considered before.
4. Relationships carry energy.
Science proves that everyTHING and everyONE is energy. As humans we give off energetic frequencies that attract like energies (Law of Attraction). When two or more like energies come together, they are exponentially more powerful and can be healthy or toxic. This extends beyond just human relationships, pets and animals are extremely sensitive to these energies. Think about how your dog reacts to different people, and even you when you're mood changes. One of the easiest ways to see what type of energy you're sending out into the Universe is to interact with your pet or animals.
5. The most important relationship is the one with yourself.
The only person you have to spend 100% of the time with is YOU. If you don't like yourself, how does it make you feel? You could feel drained, lethargic, frustrated, lonely, angry, sad, or confused. You likely seek to fill an emptiness by filling it with someone, or something that may not be good for you. In contrast, how do you feel when you love yourself and everything about you? Even in solitude, you feel a profound wholeness and permanent sense of joy. You feel energized, excited, relaxed, motivated, and happy. When you are aligned with the relationship with yourself, that's when you can truly see that the relationships with others are gifts and opportunities to grow and share your life experiences.
Our relationships with one another can nurture and support our personal growth and development, or they can be destructive, painful, and draining. Think about the existing relationships in your life and ask yourself what parts of yourself do you see in them? Why might this relationship be a part of your life experience? What might you need to learn? Are you ready for a romantic relationship, or is the one with yourself being neglected?
If you'd like to learn more about your relationships, or if you're struggling with any of your relationship in the areas of dating, career, money, or health, contact me to set up a free discovery call.