Have you ever wondered about the people in your life? It seems like we’re constantly meeting new people, rekindling past friendships and forming new romances. These relationships are a major part of life, and have been since before humans ever graced the Earth. Even now, in modern society, we still rely on relationships for our survival. However, first it is important to define what a relationship is, since it has become synonymous with romance (especially around Valentine’s Day). A relationship is defined as the way in which two or more people/groups are connected, such as friends, family, coworkers, team mates, even landlords and tenants have a type of relationship.
From our earliest moments, the relationships we form begin to shape us into the person we will eventually become, however it doesn’t stop there. We are constantly changing and evolving depending on the new relationships that emerge, and the existing ones we lose or maintain. This process is one of the main driving factors of human growth, and forms the basis of our society, but are there any specific benefits of relationships?
Research has shown that the people around us affect our self-perceptions, moral development and motivation levels (Smith, 2003). That is, if we surround ourself with healthy relationships, we are likely to think more highly of ourselves, be more motivated, and be happier. Other researchers have noted that trust is a very important component of strong relationships, as it allows us to experience both the positive and negative aspects of a relationship, without fear of it falling apart, and that this process actually strengthens the bond (Pratt & Dirks, 2007).
In summary, relationships are something we experience every single day, from chatting to the receptionist, to having dinner with your loved ones, and form a major part of life. These relationships shape us into who we are, and can make us feel better about ourselves, so we should all endeavour to try and make the most of them, and appreciate them as much as possible.
If you feel you want to talk to a professional about the relationships in your life, or want to know more, please contact BayPsych Consultants at (07) 3488 0483
References:
Pratt, M. G., & Dirks, K. T. (2007). Rebuilding Trust and Restoring Positive Relationships: A Commitment-Based View of Trust.
Smith, A. (2003). Peer relationships in physical activity contexts: a road less traveled in youth sport and exercise psychology research. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 4(1), pp.25-39.
