You and Your Significant Other

Matrix Key - Relationships - Significant Other

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." - Aristotle

When we read the above quote, we realize that even ancient societies understood the power and importance of relationships.  That's why Relationships is one of the four key quadrants of the WholeLife Matrix.  In order to succeed in balancing your life, you must succeed at being in relationship with people.

Perhaps the most important relationship a person can have is with a significant other, the one other person in your life with whom you share love, time, experience, and partnership.  Whether this person is a spouse or trusted friend, significant others must nurture and prioritize their shared commitment.

There are four important actions that are essential to a successful relationship:

1. Mutual Love and Respect
2. Staying Power
3. Time Together - Connection
4. Communication

Many people say communication is the key to a long term relationship.  We suggest that all of the above are equally important, and deserve both partners' attention and action.  To make the two of you into that "single soul" that Aristotle describes, there must be effort on both parts, and a desire to go the distance.

Are you ready to win? 

The Importance of Friends

Matrix Key:  Relationships - Friends

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.' " - C. S. Lewis 

When it comes to relationships, we often think only of the significant other in our life.  But what about friends?  We must also be in relationship with the broader community around us, and develop friendships that will enlighten, support, and enrich us.  A person can have work friends, school friends, church friends, friends from every area of your life, and enjoy different types of relationships with each one.

Just as with your significant other, your relationship with your friends needs to be nurtured and tended.  You may talk to some friends only sporadically through the years, and each interaction is as fun and fulfilling as the last.  Or you may have some friendships that demand more of your attention, and require additional effort to remain viable, but are worth the extra time.

The WholeLife Matrix shows that the keys to a good friendship are very similar to those of a successful significant other relationship:

1. Affinity and Respect
2. Mutual Commitment
3. Time Together
4. Common Interests

 Allowing yourself to be open to new friendships and connections with people in your environment will yield amazing results.  Because everyone needs friends to share the good and bad times, the losses and the wins.  And as C. S. Lewis points out, we each need to see ourselves in the eyes and heart of another as we navigate this life.

Are you ready to win?

Family Relationships

Matrix Key:  Relationships - Family

"A happy family is but an earlier heaven." - George Bernard Shaw

They say we can't choose our families, and yet family relationships are among the most important personal connections we will ever have.  From birth, we are connected to, and in relationship with, our family.  You could even say that without relations, there are no relationships!  So why are some of us blessed with close, loving interactive families, while others haven't spoken in years?

In the WholeLife Matrix, we've taken a deeper dive into what makes family relationships work.  In order to have a high functioning family unit, the members must prioritize the following key concepts:

1. Connection
2. Responsibility and Commitment
3. Management Structure
4. Communication

These concepts seem to come naturally to some families, while others must put more time and attention into them.  No matter what, a healthy family must value that family structure, and be able to understand its importance to a well-balanced, fulfilling life.  Your family should be a source of love and support, not a drain on your well-being.  When you take the time to be aware of how the four key concepts impact your family dynamics, you can better understand and embrace your family's unique relationship to you.

Are you ready to win?   

Post a comment - let me know how you see the key concepts operating in your family!