The premise for posts yet to come is: ”We are all hard-wired for relationships, and I want to help you grow in this area.” We all, whether consciously or unconsciously, want to be able to connect with others in life. Would you agree? Maybe I am just a “Hermiphobe?” (Scared of isolation:)
If my statement is true, “Everything rises and falls on our Relatability” (Our ability to connect relationally with God and others). Than I hope to give you some insights into how you can begin to move forward, and at least become relationally ept, in your relationships with God, and with others. Relational growth is the goal!
I believe the first step toward Relatability is: Self-Awareness.
Self-Awareness = Understanding who you really are.
You can either be very happy about that, or scared to death at the reality of that. But either way, self-awareness is the place I began my journey towards “Relatability” (My ability to connect relationally with God and with others).
First: Give yourself a little bit of time to contemplate life, and ask the big “Why?” questions. ”Why do people scare me?” ”Why do I continually have marital strife?” “Why would I rather live in isolation?” ”Why am I chronically depressed?” “Why can’t I seem to make friends?” ”Why do all my relationships seem shallow?” “Why do I butt heads with people more often than not?” “Why do I think, or feel that God is distant?” Just some thought-provoking questions, and the questions are not exhaustive.
For others of you, it may be, “Why am I so relational?” “Why does connection come easy for me?” ”Why is my marriage one of relational connectivity?” “Why am I a people magnet?” ”Why do people make themselves vulnerable with me?” “Why do I love engaging people in thought-provoking questions?” “Why am I in continual communication with God?” All key questions to becoming self-aware. You can add to the list.
If you really take the time to ask, and answer some of those above questions, I believe you will find yourself moving in the right direction to becoming self-aware, which ultimately can lead to a life of “Relatability.” (Life-giving connection with God and others).
Why questions and answers are so huge, because for me they began to illuminate my past & have brought me to my present reality, relationally. I have grown to understand why I struggle relationally at times, and why I thrive relationally at times. I have found that my “Relatability” IQ, has had so much to do with my past.
Wrap up: Where you have come from (past), (home life, parents, siblings, genetics, abuse, hurt, joy, love, failure, optimism, hope, etc), is the first key to becoming “Self-Aware”. Self-Awarness is the first step towards “Relatability”, (Your ability to connect relationally with God, and with others).
