Relationship are a key factor to our happiness. When our relationships aren’t successful around us, it is difficult to be a happy person. “Two qualities important to any good relationship are accountability and self-nurturance”(73). The chapter talks a lot about the different types of good and bad relationship and what distinguishes one from the other. Accountability is taking responsibility for our action, something I struggle with and have struggled with in relationships. Self nurturance is learning to appreciate yourself.
Having a relationship with my family is so important to me, I feel that I have had less of a relationship as I got older. I grew up as an only child, and feel that was a disadvantage for me. “Family of origin, those in our household during our first years, that we initially learn about feelings, love, problem solving, intimacy, and gender roles” (73). While I learned a lot of those things, I never had the chance to learn about other peoples feelings growing up since everyone at home always seemed to respond to my feelings, my parents were my friends.
I loved learning about how to have successful relationships. Predictability, dependability, and faith. The unhealthy vs healthy relationship chart on page 76 showed me how some relationships that I had thought were healthy may not have been. And also how I may have been an unhealthy person in a relationship. I think a lot of people, including myself fall into the category of neglecting yourself and focusing only on the other person. Another feeling I had a lot was feeling trapped, I knew a relationship was bad, but didn’t know how or when to get out. Looking a the Positive side of the chart, I see how far I have come in my relationships. Communication is the biggest achievement I have made making it a goal to have in all of my relationships. I have gone from a horrible romantic relationship to a healthy, happy, life changing one. Through it I made new friends, and truly learned to love myself. This chapter meant a lot to me, and showed me how far I have come.
In regards to my health aspect, while this doesn’t directly relate with eating healthy… I have had a better relationship with food and how I have felt about my body since starting better relationships. It helps to have a positive support system that supports your goals instead of making you feel like nothing will be good enough.
Emily's Blog 