Opportunities Today : August  2008 Issue

Relationship Damagers

 

Human beings have great power, be it negative or positive. Let's see how each side works in managing or damaging relationships. Let's not forget it's the relationship and the quality of it that goes to bind together or drift apart individuals and make life happy or otherwise.

In the matter of relationships, being “good” is not good enough for it is inter-personal interaction that matters. It sounds strange, but it's so! Here is why.Each person's response to an other person is variable. It changes according to the reaction that person makes in his mind towards the other. For example, when a friend smiles at you, normally you would consider it a complement or courtesy and reciprocate. But when you have a prejudice or preset notion that he is being sarcastic or making fun, of course there is a smile of that kind too, but even an innocent smile is taken as an offense since your reaction is driven by your pre-set mind, just as when you have blue glasses on your eyes that would make even the purest white look blue! Relationship Damagers.

This example amply establishes the disadvantage or damage that is caused through a preset notion. Most human beings have pre-set mode of responses for particular person that every good thing is already deemed to be bad. It's the established pre-conceived notion that guides a person than an affectionate or neutral mind. There is always the other side of the coin too which though good can cause havoc and wreck relationships.

 

Since people have a great listening ear for a particular individual and a growing negative mindset for another, the person can become a ball or shuttle-cock between two rackets. All the “saas bahu” soap sagas are based on this broad principle. Many times the person is so traumatized that he goes to extremes of breaking relationships. When he realizes the manipulating game, he may make up and become alert and discreet for future and be positive and understanding instead of being hasty and impulsive in reactions. How to be strong and use discretion is easy. There are 3 steps to be a winner in relationships. First and foremost is to keep cool and have a neutral mind. This helps in lending your ear without getting upset or making immediate judgments. Next is accepting with an open mind the situation and understanding it for salvaging instead of reacting abruptly without complete knowledge. This all requires some time to reach the right conclusion. Lastly, “be positive” to repair the damage even by being forgiving and helping people change for better and reconciling.

Such simple approach is sign of one's being in command of any tough situation instead of being propelled by circumstances and emotions or pushed by maneuvers of manipulators. So be cool, give time to understand and be discreet using a positive approach to life. Of course, “forgive and forget” is a divine virtue which only humans can practice, and that they ought to as they are superior in this animal kingdom.

 

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