🎨 The Power of Relationships

At a glance:

• Explore the power of relationships and their impact on well-being. 
• From personal growth to creativity boosts, learn how fostering connections can enrich your life.
• Ready to dive into meaningful friendships and unlock new opportunities?
• Discover steps to enhance your social circle today.

We all need some form of relationship, without exception. Some people may require more, others less, but this need is inherent to our nature. It is a fundamental aspect of being human, and it cannot be denied. You might tell yourself that you do not need others, but deep down, we both know that isn't the truth.

A lack of belonging in our lives can inflict damage not only on our mental and psychological well-being but can also negatively affect our lifespan.

The State of Relationships in Numbers

Research indicates that meaningful relationships play a crucial role in our lives. Loneliness and isolation, in fact, have detrimental effects on our well-being. According to the National Institute on Aging, the health risks associated with prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Furthermore, social isolation and loneliness are estimated to reduce a person’s lifespan by up to 15 years.

Delving into more statistics, a survey conducted by the Statista Research Department revealed that approximately 33% of adults worldwide have experienced feelings of loneliness. This same source indicates that in the United States, the percentage of adults who admit to having a best friend decreased from 75% in 1990 to 59% in 2021. A similar downward trend is evident in the number of people acknowledging they do not have a close friend. Surveys conducted by Gallup and the Survey Center on American Life show that in the United States, the proportion of people stating they have no close friends at all increased from 3% in 1990 to 12% in 2021.

These figures compel us to pause and reflect on our own lives, the relationships we forge, and their quality.

My Story

I’ve always leaned more towards introversion than extroversion. At school, I was reluctant to speak up loudly. Although I knew the answers to the teachers' questions, I would wait until absolutely no one else wanted to respond before I did, just so we could move on with the lesson. Public speaking was not my forte, nor was approaching strangers to initiate a conversation. It took time for me to feel comfortable around new people and in unfamiliar environments.Even though I don't know where my past struggles with relationships came from, they stayed with me for a long time because I believed, "I'm an introvert, and I can't change."

However, this perspective evolved significantly over the years through high school, my studies, and my career, leading to the person I am today.

Making New Friendships and Meeting People: How do I go about making new friends or meeting people? How do I start a conversation with a stranger? A pivotal change occurred with my first job, which required me to talk to people about topics I only knew a little about. Working in financial audit, I often had to discuss financial matters with accountants or even CFOs without being an expert in the field. I had no choice but to dive in, and so I did.

Work eventually led to social meetings, conferences, travel, and meeting people from around the globe. The variety of experiences and the value they added to my life motivated me to invest effort in getting to know people. Now, I have friends worldwide and maintain those relationships not for potential benefits but because these individuals have enriched my life.

The Influence of Having a Dog: Another aspect of my life that encouraged openness was getting a dog. It helped me realize that being open to people is actually quite rewarding. I began meeting many individuals in parks and on the streets, who would approach me to ask about my dog or simply to compliment him. This led to conversations with other dog owners, and eventually, I found myself initiating these interactions.

Expanding My Network Online: Recently, I've become much more active on LinkedIn, joining communities (such as Break an Egg, Office Hours, Connectd, and the Georgian Growth Network) and groups where I've met many interesting people virtually. Now, I do something previously unthinkable for me—I have one-on-one meetings with people I've met online, turning these connections into lasting relationships or even friendships. I'm also organizing a small group of individuals with similar interests to meet regularly and collaborate professionally.

Maintaining Face-to-Face Connections: To ensure I also have enough face-to-face interactions, I regularly go out for lunch with friends or colleagues from previous jobs. I apply the same principle when traveling, making an effort to meet friends around the world for at least a meal whenever the opportunity arises.

What’s the Value I Get from All of This?

Personal Development: I’ve always been told I come across as too harsh, and that people are afraid of me. This feedback motivated me to work hard on changing my approach to ensure I can develop new relationships, even with those I meet virtually. As a result, I’ve definitely improved my soft skills. This is evident in my personality tests - the difference between now and when I took them 3-7 years ago is significant.

Boosting My Creativity: This journey has brought me a wealth of new experiences that inspire fresh ideas. I feel much more creative and energized.

New Opportunities: In recent months, being open to new relationships has presented many great opportunities. These range from being featured in articles, to writing for different communities, to forming professional connections that contribute to business growth. And this is just the beginning.

Your Turn:

If you want to improve your relationships or build new ones, here are steps you can take today to start:

#1 Do Relationships Audit: List all the relationships in your life that you currently dedicate time to. Assess each of them, considering whether it brings you energy or drains it. Make sure you spend much more time with people who help you grow, and reconsider continuing relationships with energy vampires. As Jim Rohn, the motivational speaker, said: "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."

#2 Match Your Relationships with Activities: List everything you want to do in your life, such as running, talking about investments, or cooking. Then decide which activities you prefer to do on your own and which require company. Match your current relationships with these activities.Watch out: don’t rely on your life partner for everything. If you weren’t able to match all items, consider making new relationships. Find people who love each activity as much as you do and enjoy it together.

#3 Join a Community: It can be a small group, large community, or a yoga class. Join a new group, be open to people, and make new relationships. You will be surprised how valuable such an experience can be.

#4 Meet a Stranger: Be open to new relationships and new people. Have a one-on-one with a person met online who shares a similar passion or works in a similar industry. Talk to someone at the gym or in the park. Take the first step towards a new relationship.

#5 Go Out for Lunch or Dinner with a Family Member or a Friend: Make it a meaningful meeting; don’t rush and enjoy the company. Ask interesting questions and create new memories that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

Follow these steps over the next month. Then reflect on how changes or new things have impacted your life. Stick with what was good. If something isn't for you, keep exploring and stay curious. You will find your way.

Bonus Material: Check out Tony Robbins' 5-step journey to surround yourself with good people.

Closing remarks:

In wrapping up, let's remember how important our friends and the people we meet are. This whole story shows us why we need good people around us and how they can make our lives better. From feeling better about ourselves to finding new chances to do great things, having the right friends matters a lot.

Michelle Obama says: "Choose people who lift you up." That's really good advice for all of us. It means we should hang out with people who make us feel good and help us grow. When we pick our friends carefully, we end up doing better and feeling happier.

So, think about the friends you have and the new ones you want to make. Try the steps I talked about to make your friendships even stronger or to start new ones. It's all about being with people who make you happy and support you.

Remember, the friends we choose can change our lives. Let's make sure we're choosing the ones who lift us up and make every day better.