Cultivate stronger relationships and deeper understanding

Welcome to MindfulMornings!

Here are 2 quotes, 2 tips, and 1 question to help you build healthy habits this week.

2 Quotes

1. "The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best." - Epictetus

    

2. "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." - C.S. Lewis

2 Tips

1) Surround Yourself with Positive Influences

Why It’s Important

The people we spend time with shape our thoughts, actions, and even our sense of self. Jim Rohn famously said, "We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with." This idea challenges us to think about who we're spending our time with and how they impact our lives. Are your closest relationships helping you grow and be happy? Or are they holding you back?

Here are some steps to help ensure you have a positive social circle:

1. Reflect on your current relationships:

• List the people you spend the most time with. This includes people you listen to, read, follow, or watch online. If you engage with their content frequently, they will affect how you think.

• Think about how they influence you. Do they support your goals and values?

• Identify any relationships that might be draining your energy.

2. Gradually adjust your circle:

• Spend less time with people who negatively affect you.

• Nurture relationships with those who inspire and uplift you

But, being mindful of relationships doesn't mean abruptly cutting ties. Instead, focus on adding value to your social circle. Here are some ways to connect with positive influences:

• Volunteer for a cause you're passionate about and connect with positive role models who share your values.

• Participate in a challenge or competition that encourages commitment and accountability. Look for challenges at local gyms, yoga studios, or online.

• Join a book club that encourages learning and growth through shared insights.

• Attend workshops or seminars on health and wellness to learn and meet others interested in personal growth.

• Follow inspiring influencers and find role models who motivate you to make positive changes.

• Attend a wellness retreat and immerse yourself in a health-conscious environment to foster new habits.

Here are a couple of websites that may be helpful with finding seminars, workshops, or places to volunteer:

• Meetup.com

• VolunteerMatch.org

2) Simple Steps to Improve Relationships and Reduce Misunderstandings

Why this matters:

We all face misunderstandings. They pop up at home, at work, and with friends. When we handle them well, we can improve our relationships and create a more peaceful environment. Better communication helps us grow and stay connected with others, which boosts our overall well-being and happiness.

Steps to follow:

When you're dealing with a breakdown in communication or misunderstanding, before getting irritated or angry, try asking yourself these three key questions:

1. What am I not saying that needs to be said?

   • Check in with yourself. Are you expecting the other person to know something they don’t or can’t?

   • Are you making assumptions based on your experiences that the other person doesn’t share?

2. What am I saying that's not being heard?

   • Think about your message. Are you explaining your thoughts clearly?

   • Make sure your words match what you really mean.

   • Ask the other person to repeat what they understood. This helps spot any mix-ups.

      

3. What's being said that I'm not hearing?

   • Listen actively. Focus on the speaker without planning your response.

   • Pay attention to body language and tone of voice.

   • Repeat what you heard in your own words and ask if you got it right. If not, ask the other person to explain until you can repeat it back in your own words.

By asking these three key questions, you can turn misunderstandings into chances to connect and deepen relationships.

1 Question

This week we have a question attributed to Jerry Colonna that encourages us to consider how our actions, choices, or behaviors might contribute to us being in situations or circumstances we claim to dislike or want to avoid.

• How have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say I don’t want?

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoy your week.

With gratitude,

MindfulMornings

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