5 Ways to Create Meaningful Connections
It does not take the brightest person to realize that friendships are one of the most delightful experiences in life. If you have experienced good friendships then you know this is true. According to ThinkHealth some benefits of friendships are:
- Friends help you live healthier and longer.
- Friends help keep your brain sharp.
- Friends provide mental support.
The list of benefits from having healthy friendships can go on and on.
Friendship saved my marriage. Not because it gives me a place to escape the presence of the one I have devoted my life to. We are around each other every second of every day and I absolutely love it. Her perspective may be different. My best friend was able to be there when I needed to get outside of my own head and feelings to hear another perspective. I had got entangled in a situation where I was not seeing how staying in the situation could have lead to a failed marriage. It was such a weird place to be in, I remember not thinking anything of it but noticing something was weird. My friend being there allowed me to have someone to share what I was feeling and thinking. It allowed me to get the things that were confusing me out of my mind so that they could be laid on the table and given a new perspective. The conversation I had with that friend saved my marriage. I did not do anything crazy but I did make a degree turn that I believe would have had the potential to end my marriage if I had stayed on course.
Friendships allow for meaningful conversations to be had with people who care about your ultimate well-being.
Growing up I had the privilege of having another close friend. Being in the same grade and also living in the same neighborhood we got to spend a whole bunch of time together. From 1st grade to the time that I moved away we were together every week. When we were middle-school-aged we were playing kickball for gym class with the rest of our class. My friend and I were extremely competitive and actually good at anything regarding sports, especially him. While we were playing kickball the coach decided that only a certain amount of people were able to play in-field. My unmovable and barely 5-foot skinny frame had decided that I am one of the in-fielders. That would have been perfectly fine, but there was another guy who wanted to stay in the same position that I was in. Also, this other guy was 3 times my size and literally could probably eat me whole. I had decided and said to myself this is the way, the Coach kept allowing the other team to take bases until we got the position thing sorted out, the other guy had begun to feel the pressure, and the rest of our team did not help the rising pressure by yelling at him telling him to “MOVE”. They did not tell me anything, because in my mind I was not moving. Then next thing I know I am sliding across the ground and doing flips. Big boy had a temper problem and decided to push me across the town. I popped up off the ground to fight the baby giant but before I could even get there my childhood friend was already there. Now typically in a situation like this, the adult would be holding me back. I guess my tiny frame was not threatening enough to require to be held back. The Coach was holding my friend back and the baby giant looked terrified and remorseful for his actions. The story gets even more interesting but from that incident, I realized good friends are always going to have your back.
Friendships are worth the energy spent to create and maintain them. Below I will list 5 ways to create meaningful connections:
- Decide what kind of friend you want to be.
You get to decide the type of person you want to be, for more information on embracing your individuality click here, so decide the type of friend you want to be.
2. Show up.
Show up, whether it is through text, phone call, or actually hanging out in person. Have a conversation, ask questions, and see what is new in their world.
3. Listen up.
This one seems obvious but listening is one of the most impactful and efficient ways to make meaningful connections. Listen to what they say. When you are talking to your friend hear beyond their words. Are they really ok? Do they seem weird or acting differently? Ask questions if you feel like something is off.
4. Commit
Any close relationship is going to have friction. Maybe some arguments, some hurt feelings, or something that is uncomfortable. Decide to commit to the relationship no matter what happens. Decide that the relationship is worth pushing through offense to build connection.
5. Invest
Invest in the relationship, whether it is time, resources, or mental and emotional energy. Give into the relationship.
Whether you are building relationships with a partner or a friend these ways can help assist you on your journey. If you need more content dealing with connecting with others visit my website for more.