“We human beings are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others’ actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others’ activities. For this reason, it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others.” ~Dalai Lama XIV
Healthy relationships are crucial to a healthy, happy life. We become who we are through our relationships.
We have to teach our children to trust others, so they learn to make meaningful connections on their own.
Of course one of the most important ways to do that is to work on your own relationships and set a good example. Set limits on how people are allowed to treat you. Do not allow other adults to be disrespectful to you and make sure your children don’t get away with being disrespectful either. Remember, it is their job to test out this type of behavior just to see how you will react. Set respectful limits that send the message: “Disrespectful behavior is not okay in our family!”
Another thing you can do to teach your child how to make meaningful connections is to simply strengthen your bond. Bonding is the beginning of social trust. Make sure you snuggle a lot! Frequent touch promotes trust and cooperation. Touch strengthens the immune system and lowers blood pressure, so hug at each greeting and goodbye, hold hands, pat a head or squeeze a shoulder in passing, cuddle for books or bedtime. Make time for simple moments together. Learning to trust starts at home.
Relationships should be respectful and balanced. They should raise you up. Think about the meaningful relationships in your life. Tag someone who raises you up. ❤️