The Four Essential Types of Relationships
– Healthy relationships have immense positive effects on your health and well-being.
– There are various types of relationships to understand: spiritual, romantic, friendships, and professional.
– Be aware of your orientation in the world and allow yourself to be open to connecting with others.
– We challenge you to cultivate relationships with others that lift you up and inspire you.
Community and relationships are part of feeling spiritually whole. Often the state of your relationships is directly reflected in your overall health and well-being.
It’s essential to develop a positive support system and uplifting community.
You may claim that there is no ready-made community that you want to join. This is where we are going to swoop in and ask if that’s really true!
Here is your homework: take the initiative to form your own community!
You might be surprised to learn that others really want to connect as well and just haven’t taken the initiative to do so. This is your opportunity to be the firestarter!
THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM
- Decrease inflammation
- Decrease the risk of chronic disease and cancer
- Strengthen the immune system
- Shield the body from the negative impact of stress
- Decrease risk of depression and anxiety
- Help manage symptoms of chronic disease
- Lighten the load of long-term caregiving
RELATIONSHIPS — A SPIRITUAL NECESSITY
Relationships are perhaps one of the most critical spiritual needs.
Spirituality, itself, is essentially connection — with yourself, with others, and with nature and/or a higher power.
The human spirit naturally wishes to exist as part of the web of spirits, and when you feel isolated or lonely, your spirit is unnaturally detached from this web. When this happens, psychological, spiritual, or physical disease is imminent.
It’s important to understand the various types of relationships.
THE FOUR ESSENTIAL TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS
SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIPS
Note that all of the following relationships can second as a spiritual relationship.
Where friends and other relationships in your life may keep you from rocking the boat, spiritual relationships, on the other hand, flip the boat over and make you swim.
Spiritual partners challenge you, push you, and celebrate you when they see you flourish!
It’s important for you to have a few strong spiritual partnerships in your life and connect with these people as often as you can.
Try to surround yourself with those who push you and are invested in helping you step into the highest and best version of yourself.
Helping your client to understand the various types of relationships will help them to improve the quality of all of their current relationships and potentially cultivate some new ones!
ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS
A romantic relationship is often the most emotionally and physically intimate relationship in your life. Because of that, the strength and health of a romantic relationship often reflects the health of the individuals involved in that relationship.
Your romantic relationship can help you to heal and grow as an individual, which is the type of romantic relationship you deserve and should strive for!
Conversely, your romantic relationship can also be a source of trauma and pain. When this is the case, there tends to be a need for deep healing, forgiveness, and releasing.
FRIENDSHIPS
Quantity is not as important as quality when it comes to your friendships.
Healthy friendships are invaluable to your psychological and physical health. They can serve as a healthy coping mechanism (think: all those venting sessions), decrease stress levels, and make life feel less overwhelming.
Friends can even help you manage certain chronic diseases and any mental health issues.
Friendships are a vital part of your well-being. Just make sure these friends are true and genuine.
PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
It is highly important that you (and your clients) feel comfortable expressing yourself in your work environment.
After all, you likely spend the majority of your waking hours at work. #truth
If you feel overly inhibited at work, chances are that you are stifling important thoughts and emotions, which can negatively impact health and manifest into physical pain or illnesses.
Be sure to create uplifting and motivating work relationships! Surround yourself with others who work hard, listen to one another, are open to new ideas, and aim to bring you up, not belittle you.
AVOIDING MISSED CONNECTIONS
While things might look a little different right now, we usually have an opportunity to connect with others every day — with the cashier, uber driver, barista, mailman, etc. And every day there are so many missed connections.
This is likely something you’ve reflected on and perhaps felt some regret after our current state of living. We certainly won’t be taking a smiling face for granted again. But in case we do return to old habits… remember to approach humans with a sense of openness. To express curiosity in their life, even if it’s just for a few seconds.
A simple conversation, thoughtful gesture, or smile can go a long way — you might just strike up a new friendship or perhaps a spiritual relationship!
Be aware of your orientation to the world. By changing a few simple habits, you can appear to be much more open and welcoming to new acquaintances, which will enrich your life, health, and spiritual journey.
TAKEAWAY
Our challenge for you is to begin cultivating healthy relationships in all of these areas. Each relationship type has an important role in helping you to feel fulfilled, heard, loved, and important.
Set aside some time to take inventory of each of these relationships. Ask yourself if your relationships in each specific area are healthy and uplifting!
If they are, be sure you’re investing time and energy into them. If they aren’t, ask if they can be improved, or maybe even let go.
Looking to join a community of amazing, uplifting, like-minded people? Join the ITN family!
