You long to express your deepest values in the day to day of your relationships. Meditation, prayer, and other practices can connect you to these values. Yet, when you step back into your daily life you can get lost in a swirl of criticism, doubt, and confusion. You need tools to find and express the compassion, connection, and clarity you long for in your relationships. Where do you start?
I spoke with my 15 year old niece moments after I read your "gem". She was upset in general and all over the place. Typically I would have been.. blah.. blah...blah, tell me something I haven't heard before and then attempted to throw solutions and fixes at her. Ultimately leaving us both disconnected. However, thanks to the reminder just moments prior I was able to provide her with some much needed validation and empathy. The gem for me was actually how much better I felt after the interaction, like I had done right by her and was a role model she could look up to. She actually said at the end of the call... "Thanks Aunt Jeri for understanding and listening" WOW! What a profound breakthrough!! I cannot remember the last time my niece said something so kind. I was left with how much I love and care for my niece which is something I have not been present to for sometime. Your little gem came at just the right moment!
It all starts inside of you. It’s about discovering what goes on in you from the moment you perceive something to the moment you respond. Though it might be just a split second, you cycle through a river of thoughts, feelings, and needs. Shedding light on this river helps you to connect to your heart and respond to what you and others need most. You get free from the trap of making decisions based on habits, assumptions, or what you think you “should” do. Confusion clears and you find yourself connected to your heart. When you’re connected to yourself, you can connect to others.
Loyalty
When you learn to identify universal needs (e.g., Sustenance, Connection, Honesty, Play, Safety, Celebration, Fairness, Understanding, Autonomy, Contribution, Community, Affection, Love, . . .). for you and others, you discover the rewards of staying loyal to these life giving needs. Gone are the days of compromise, giving in, or taking over. By staying loyal to universal needs you create connection and say and do what really works for yourself and others.
New Perspective
The willingness to ask the question: “How can I see this differently?” takes you a long way down the road of connection. With more knowledge about how humans really work, a whole new level of clarity opens up. You start to see that everything anyone ever says or does is to meet needs – connect to life!
When connection, clarity, loyalty, and new perspective all come together, healing and transformation happen in you and with others. Your relationships become alive and fulfilling.
To get a taste of this work sign up below for my Connection Gem of the Week, give me a call or email, or check out upcoming classes.