As a human being connection is fundamentally important for our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical wellbeing. Every human encounter we experience is a connection, the level of connection depends on the type of relationship. We have the transactional relationship at the store or relationships at work with co-workers, clients, and leadership, in our community with neighbors, and community organizations we belong to, and more intimate relationships with friends, family, partners/spouses.
Although your connection in each of these may be different, creating a connection requires an environment of Safety. What this looks like will vary depending on the level of the relationship, but the basics of creating safety in your connections include Kindness, Trust, Respect, and Communication. At a deeper level it will include Honesty, Acceptance, Compassion, Empathy, Support and Consistency.
Within this safe environment it becomes easier to create connection and as the feeling of safety grows, so does the connection.
Connection can be simple greetings, pleasantries, or inquiries, or it may include sharing opinions and values, or in closer relationships feelings, dreams, or fears. These relationships may include being able to ask for what you need or to offer support.
Being in relationship is like breathing, you cannot always breathe in or always breathe out; it is a constant exchange of give and take.
How are your connections, are you breathing, what might be blocking a deeper connection where you would like one?
It is in these connections, at all levels, that our lives are enriched, and we have the opportunity to enrich the lives of others.
