Welcome back to the Remodel Your Reality Challenge! At this point in your process, congratulations are in order. While the work of self-improvement is never really finished, you have started to lay the foundation that will allow you to move out into the world, continually learning, growing, and evolving, while maintaining your sense of personal balance. In this stage of personal transition you are ready to invite a heightened level of joy into your day-to-day experience. This joyful opportunity can be found in your relationships.
Interpersonal connections are the juice of life. You will have the opportunity to participate in many relationships throughout your lifetime. In my work with clients, I’ve identified what I call the Essential Six Relationships we all have in our lives: your relationship with your self, your mate, your parents or authority figures, your children or dependents, your friends and your connection to a higher power.
Each of these types of relationship addresses a unique set of needs and desires and requires a specific contribution on your part. The bonds you develop in each of these areas can support you in becoming the balanced, happy, satisfied human being you’ve decided to be.
One Thing To Think About
Investing in these Essential Six Relationships will help you meet your interpersonal needs while experiencing the joy and satisfaction of intimate connections.
One Question To Answer
Which of the Essential Six Relationships are well represented and maintained in a healthy manner in your life? Which types are not?
One Challenge To Take
Open your journal or your computer notebook, and answer the following questions.
- Self-Connection – Do you know who you are? Do you like being with yourself?
- Mate Connection – If you are in a committed relationship, what are you doing to contribute to the health of that connection? What are you doing to contaminate it? If you aren’t in a relationship yet, what could you do to improve the quality of your life and your connection to self?
- Parent or Authority-Figure Connection – Do you share a nurturing connection with your parents? If you do, how can you deepen and strengthen that bond? If you do not, who could you establish a connection with to fill this role in your life?
- Child or Dependent Connection – If you’re a parent, what are you doing to nurture your children? What are you doing that may be harming them? If you aren’t a parent, who could you invest your time in to address this relationship need?
- Friendship Connection – Who is your best friend? Is there someone in your personal or professional circle you’d like to know better? How will you cultivate and nurture that relationship?
- Higher-Power Connection – Are you interested in developing a relationship with a higher power? If so, what is the most effective action you could take to establish this connection?
This activity will help you to evaluate your current relationships, identify those you’d like to cultivate, and commit to those you’d like to improve.
Until next time, take care!
Kim
