Monday Meditation – Strengthen Your Relationships - 12/5/2022

How are strong are your relationships with other people? Could some of those relationships use some bolstering? Clinical psychologist Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D., has three suggestions for improving relationships which I felt were worthy to pass on. He says:

First, start with kindness. Kindness is like a magnet. People like to be around others who are kind because they feel cared about and safe with them. The age-old Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would want them to do to you” still rings true today.

It’s also reciprocal. When we practice kindness, not only do we feel better, but we help others feel good, too. And this just increases opportunities for positive connections throughout our day, which, in turn, contributes to our own health and well-being.

Second, let go of toxic people. Take an inventory of your relationships to get a sense for who’s nourishing you and who’s depleting you. A strong friendship will make you feel comfortable, confident, and fully supported.

Once you know who is really there for you, try to spend a little less time with those who deplete you. This isn’t always possible, of course (ie: family members, coworkers, etc.), so in those cases, see if you can change your relationship a little bit by recognizing that those people may be dealing with some instability in their lives. Practice sending them some kind intentions using a loving-kindness meditation and see what comes up.

Third, focus on similarities, not differences. If you want to foster a greater sense of connection in your life, it’s helpful to think of what we share as human beings — even with the people you might not always see eye to eye with.

As you go through your day and encounter someone who you think is different from you, silently say, “Just like me,” and see what you notice. You may just experience the awareness that each of us wants the same things: to feel cared for and understood, and to experience a sense of belonging.

I like these suggestions of Elisha. I can see how they apply to my own relationships, and I am trying to put his suggestions into practice. I know at times I have not been as kind as I could be to people, so I am looking for ways to be kinder.. I have also had some toxic relationships which I have had to let go, and I am trying to nourish those relationships that enrich me. And since I have unconsciously marked people as “different” without realizing how much those people are similar to me, I am now trying to be more aware of others and how they want the same things I do.

This week I encourage you to look through these three suggestions on how to strengthen your relationships. Pick one and see if you can change yourself in some small way this week. Who knows, your relationships just might become stronger and become a blessing for you.

Have a blessed Monday!

Faye

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