I was just pondering over a few of my past relationships–the good, the bad, and the ugly–and what I’ve learned from them. Regardless as to whether it was a good relationship that just happened to fade away or if it was not so good relationship that went down in flames, it was a relationship from which I learned something about myself. No….I didn’t learn that I shouldn’t have been with that person. Every relationship has something to offer for our soul growth and development. Sometimes we just hang onto some of them longer than we should–that’s another post. Every relationship has a reason, a season or a lifetime.
If you are on a journey of growth take a minute or a few to reflect on the importance of relationships in your life:
- Think of five to seven important relationships or relational contexts in your life (e.g., parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, teachers, groups, classes, clubs, or teams).
- Describe how each relationship has affected your development. How have you changed through each relationship, either positively or negatively? How have you contributed to each relationship?
- How do you think these relationships has or will contribute to shaping your future? Specifically, how do you predict they will shape your sense of self, self-esteem, career development, relational capacities, and personal values?
Frager, Robert, Ph.D.; Fadiman, James, Ph.D. (2012-10-19). Personality and Personal growth (Page 139). Pearson Education. Kindle Edition.