Relational Care

This week's episode of the Cultivation Podcast continues the season's theme of self care by discussing relationships. Relationships add meaning and purpose to your life.    How many great memories do you have by yourself? And how many solo achievements do you wish you had been able to share with someone else?   Nothing good happens in isolation and the world we live in has a lot of mental stress as people feel more isolated and less connected.    Here are some ways to maintain supportive, healthy and diverse relationships:   Prioritize — Don't use your personality type as an excuse for not building healthy, supportive relationships. For all my introverts out there, being alone is how you refresh but you still need to be with other people. To extroverts, just because you're outgoing doesn't mean you have real friends, I know many extroverts who are lonely.  Recognize Your Responsibility — There are different levels of responsibility and importance for relationships. My wife takes priority above my friends because I promised that to her at our wedding. For my daughters, I am the most influential relationship in their life right now and it only helps them when I prioritize that relationship. Share Experiences — Make relationships about experiences, not about stuff. Giving gifts is a great way to add value, but sharing experiences is a great way to create memories and bring you closer together. Take vacations or have that backyard barbecue as a relational investment. Set Boundaries — Set healthy boundaries with your work schedule so you have time to spend with your family. Go to bed early so you have the right mindset and energy level for quality time with your friends and family. Carve out time in your schedule for getting into your community.  Form Diverse Relationships — Be friends with people who don't share the same views as you. We become so much more mature and enriched when we have actual conversations that don't fully align with us. My greatest growth potential comes in my relationships, so I challenge you to have relationships with people who are different from you.