Because we're wired for relationships, no man is an island; we don't exist in a vacuum. And despite being a passionate advocate for the "self" in self-care, the truth is that without community care, the lone-ranger stance is neither sustainable nor healthy. We need each other, and as Jim Rohn wisely said, we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.
In this blog post, I reshare an episode from 2017 where I talked about relationships, community care, and three types of people:
1. LEAF PEOPLE:
Some people come into your life, and they are like leaves on a tree. They are only there for a season.
2. BRANCH PEOPLE:
There are some people who come into your life, and they are like branches on a tree.
3. ROOT PEOPLE:
If you can find some people in your life who are like the roots of a tree, then you have found something special.
As we wrap up yet another turbulent year, may we make time to slow down. To rest, rejuvenate, and assess our personal and professional growth. Resting is one thing, but getting right back to the status quo - same spaces, people, mindset, habits, and behaviors while expecting different results is what Einstein called insanity.
Because community care, relationships, and the people in our lives play a crucial role in our well-being and success, I invite you to assess your personal and professional relationships to see if there are any that need restructuring. One relationship we often overlook or underestimate is the one we have with ourselves. It sets the standards for how we relate with others because we can only meet others to the extent we've met ourselves. So you may want to take a look there as well because that's the only person you can change if you desire positive change.
To conclude this blog post, here's a gentle reminder: while assessing your relationships, whether you see leaves, branches, or root folks, please remember to do it with curiosity and compassion. Both for yourself and for others, because most (well-meaning) people (including you and I) are doing the best they know how - let's extend grace, as mentioned in this podcast episode.
We're all just figuring out this journey called life as we walk each other home. Thanks for being here today!
r