Maintaining personal relationships is essential for our well-being. That’s tough in times like these when we are preoccupied with challenges that consume our focus and energy. Here are some strategies for nourishing personal connections:
- Remember good moments.
Those we love and/or live with have habits that may annoy us, which can be even more grating in difficult times. When you feel that little annoyance, intentionally recall a kind gesture or comment that person made to shift your energy. - Renew a connection.
Reach out to one person you haven’t heard from in months or years to see how they’re doing. - Intentionally appreciate.
Take time to notice and acknowledge the effort, skill, humor, or contributions of those you interact with each day. Remember how you feel when someone has acknowledged you. (See Right Relationships Tip 3 for more) - Use nature for perspective.
Find an older tree near you. Take five minutes with a friend or family member to really look at it and think about the times it has weathered and all it has seen. Taking a pleasant walk together can have the same effect. - Help a service worker feel seen.
Intentionally offer kind, appreciative words to service people who help you in what are often perfunctory, impersonal transactions. It will brighten their day, and yours. - Find something to like.
When you come across someone you don’t particularly like or agree with, notice something about them that you DO like—their earrings, their shirt, whatever—and mention it. It can open the door to a positive conversation.
“When we practice reciprocity, the art of giving and taking, we overcome isolation and fear.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer
