Friday, March 17, 2006
Acceptance - A good read.
"A relationship is a living thing. It needs and benefits from the same attention to detail that an artist lavishes on his art. "
-David Viscott
Permit people to be who they are - not what they could be, should be, or would be if only they listened to you. Accept the imperfections and celebrate each other's person's individuality. Acceptance affirms people's value, raise self-esteem, and makes them feel comfortable in your presense.
Artist are masters at the use of primary colors which create the heart of the finished product. Mutual trust is 1 such primary ingredients. We live in an imperfect, messy world made up of imperfect people. Unfortunately, many of us are prone to trusting people when they prove themselves trustworthy. I tend to believe that if we trust people, they will prove themselves trustworthy. I know trust can be betrayed but it is essential for relationships to develop. Step out. Make an effort to believe in the intrinsic goodness of people. Sure you might be disappointed at times, but you will also be blessed.
Share yourself with others. There is a bit of risk here but withholding who we are places a permanent blemish on the relationship canvas. Open and honest communication stands out in any close friendship. Use discretion but share your hurts, fears, and failures. Throw good stuff in there too. Just refrain from unnecessary critical, cheap shots of hurting comments that are better left unsaid.
I'm sure every artist has his or her favourite color that tends to find its way into each creation. My favourite relationship ingredient is improving the ability to see the good in people. Tell your friends, family and coworkers what you like about them. Tell people how thankful you are for them. Recognize their talents, applaude their successes (one of the most difficult actions of human nature), and make others feel important about themselves. Expressing appreciation on every possible occasion is one of the surest way to boost mutual respect and encourage positive behaviours.
A masterpiece stands out in the viewer's mind when the proper highlights are added. When it comes to relationships, you can move to the next level by
Giving more than you get
Allowing people to have their space
Maintaining confidentiality
Giving supportive and positive advise
Being loyal
Listening
Treating others with dignity
Saying "please" and "thank you"
Being agreeable
Accepting others' opinions
Forgiving wrongs committed
Quality relationships are fulfilling. Relationships dont fail to become a beautiful experience because they are wrong but because most people dont want to invest what it takes to create an original. To evaluate how effective you are in a relationship masterpiece, jus ask yourself,
"If i were my friend, would I enjoy the artistic strokes (Qualities) I experience being with me?"