In today’s reading, we are being asked to work on repairing our existing relationships. While this spiritual guidance is sound and feels like the right step forward, putting this advice into practice is easier said than done. What tools do we have at our disposal to aid us in making amends? Needle and thread, crystals, wishes alone will not make another person work with us in repairing whatever needs mending. Because that’s the rub, right? We can’t do it alone, it doesn’t work if it is one-sided. Below we have outlined three types of relationships and tips on making sure these connections remain healthy.
The Work Relationship
Harvard Business Review has a whole section of their website dedicated to “difficult conversations.” It’s within this category that we find Gallo’s (2014) list of actions we can take to bridge the gap that can exist between coworkers, managers, and the like – all experiencing miscommunication and tension.
The Friend Relationship
Psychology Today highlights not only steps we can take to mend a broken friendship but Ali (2018) brings to light the most important question we should ask ourselves: “Do I want to mend this friendship?” There is an expectation that because we have been friends with someone for years, we need to keep that relationship intact against all odds. However, what’s important to keep in mind is that not all relationships are healthy and we should not feel obligated to continue allowing ourselves to be connected to people that don’t treat us with respect.
The Love Relationship
Also from Psychology Today, Greenberg (2012) discusses the unhealthy cycles partners experience, and takes things one step further by exploring the reasoning behind why these cycles happen, as well as what we can do to break them. If a relationship consists of interactions focused on blaming, tearing the other person down, criticizing, freezing the other person out, there is something seriously wrong.
At the end of the day, whatever the type of relationship, there is a common thread that ties together the interactions we should have with other people. Whether we simply work with them or feel like we can’t live without them, our relationships with others should contain trust, empathy, and communication. All truly healthy relationships have a foundation consisting of these three building blocks.
Midnight Crab Oracle 