10 Reasons why Relationships Matter
In the last series, we were talked of Getting Ahead in life. From my experience, the fastest way of succeeding and sustaining success is growing and nurturing relationships. Be they business, social, family or dating relationships, how you relate with others determines how high you ascend or how low you sink.
The people you interact with have a deep impact on how you feel and who you eventually become. No matter what stage in life you may be in, you need other people. Cultivating relationships is a powerful skill to add to your success arsenal.
This series will be exploring various relationships and aspects of relationships. But before we do that, let’s get clear on why relationships matter. Why do we even need to bother fostering great relationships?
1. Relationships give lasting happiness
We are social animals. We need people around us to be happy. The people around us ignite happiness, cultivate it and share in it. This is the only way to have lasting happiness. You may enjoy your own company and be happy alone but this is very limited. The happiness in isolation has a ceiling. You can be happy enjoying you wealth alone, and maybe enjoy bashing and walking on everyone around you, and gain great satisfaction from that. But the sad news is, this kind of happiness can only go on to a point. It is through the relationships you, be it family or friends or colleagues that one derives true and sustainable happiness. There is joy in sharing other people’s successes and helping them in times of need.
2. You get help through relationships.
No man is an island. No man is self sufficient. You cannot have everything you need in your life and it doesn’t matter how rich you become. From time to time, you will need other people in your life. It is the people that you relate with that you will talk to when you have a problem and need help. It is through relationships cultivate that you get a helping hand in your hour of need.
3. Relationships are a source of learning.
Through our different relationships we get to learn about life, about ourselves and about other people as well. The relationships that we keep are a great source of knowledge, insight, and influence. We learn a lot from the people we relate with regardless of age, race, gender. There is something to learn from everyone we relate with.
4. Relationships offer opportunities
One of the greatest assets when it comes to getting ahead in life is our networks. This is an asset that can really steer you into achieving your goals. These networks cannot exist in a vacuum neither can they be developed with non-human objects. They are based on relationships. And in your journey to success, your relationships may turn out to be o the best of your investments.
5. Relationships are mirrors to our souls.
A wise man said once, ‘show me your friends and I will tell you who you are’. The relationships we have are a direct reflection of who we are. Birds of a feather flock together, and chances are you will end up in circles of people with a mindset and behavior just like you. You are likely to develop relationships with people who reflect you in some way or the other.
6. Relationships give you security.
With good friends around, friends who are reliable, and friends that you can count on, there is a sense of security when you know that there are people out there that have your back. One of the great reasons why people get married is for this same reason. There is a feeling of security amongst both partners mentally and financially.
7. Relationships drive our ambitions.
One of the reasons why we work so hard everyday is so that we may guard some relationships that we have in our lives. Everybody wants the best for their children and will do great things to make sure they have met them. You want to impress a girl, you work very hard to afford that expensive car. Your friend has a PHD, you work tirelessly to get one too. Relationships shape our ambitions and world view. However, be careful on the kind of ambitions your relationships create in you. Keeping up with the Joneses blindly might not be your best move yet.
8. Relationships offer a sounding board for our thoughts, ideas.
When you have something in mind, there are people that you talk to. People who will give you a genuine opinion of whatever thought or idea you may have. It may be your wife or best friend or mentor who will listen and tell you what they think about your ideas. It is through these relationships that one is able to improve on the same or forget about it all together. Relationships provide a platform for this. You are able to tell if you are still on the right track by soliciting feedback from the people around you.
9. Relationships keep you sane
Life is full of pressures left, right, and center. But when you have stable relationships networked around you, you are able to maneuver each day with renewed power. Through sharing with friends, or getting that smile from your daughter. You can imagine how this life would be without having those relationships. Total darkness.
10. Relationships are success
One way to measure your success is by analyzing the kind of relationships you have. If you have a trail of failed relationships and people that you have let down, I wonder how successful you can term yourself to be. There is victory and joy in having stable and mature relationships, be it at work, or with your family, or even with your friends. Your relationships are a measure of your true success.
Summary
Relationships do matter to everybody under the sun. You cannot live in a world of your own and be truly successful. We all need each other. I hope you now have an extra incentive to get back on the drawing board and improve a couple of your relationships.
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