Value Your Relationships....

Value Your Relationships...

Every relationship has its own value. What matters is how we value it. It may be the relationship between God and a devotee, parents and children, family members, couples, a company owner and employees, friends, or even between a person and their pet animals or birds. A relationship survives when there is respect, understanding, mutual confidence, sharing, and forgiveness. But today, why are people increasingly choosing to keep pet animals or birds at home rather than having a partner with whom they can share their life? Perhaps because there is no complicated communication required, no arguments, no questions, and no thought process about how to value the relationship. Pets are gentle. The moment you take care of them and pamper them, they respond with love and affection. But why can't the same love and pampering be given to another human being who is there with you, sharing your life and your emotions? Is it because we are slowly moving towards a world of selfies, where we are becoming more focused on ourselves?

In earlier times, our Lord Krishna had a nature where people from his kingdom could come and share their problems with him, and he would try to resolve them so that everyone could feel comfortable living in his kingdom. Our ancestors and kings also used to hold a darbar, where individuals from the kingdom could come with their complaints and problems and seek a solution. Today, when we live in a democratic country where we have the freedom to express ourselves, share our emotions and feelings, and fight for or protect our rights, why are we sometimes running away from communication itself? I was also reading about the theory of Imposter Syndrome, where a person may downplay their achievements, struggle with perfectionism, develop a fear of failure, and try to be the best at the expense of their own well-being. In doing so, we may miss many opportunities that come our way. These feelings can come from unrealistic expectations we create for ourselves, our early experiences and the new roles we take on at different stages of life. Many of these expectations are created by our own minds and can become a vicious cycle, often without us even realising it.

Today, first of all, we don't always value our own selves. In this social media and selfie world, we may try to present the best version of ourselves, while at the same time becoming comfortable with being alone. But we cannot live completely disconnected from the world. To build a community and maintain communication, we need the support of one another. So, while setting our goals and working towards them, we equally need to give time and attention to building our relationships. When a child comes to us with hearing difficulties, for example, we as professionals need to give the parents confidence that we are there with them and that together we can work towards overcoming the child's challenges. Without that confidence and emotional support, how will parents find the strength to move forward? To build any relationship, we need a positive attitude and understanding from both sides.

I have heard a song that says, in its own way, why do you worry when God is with you? Lord Krishna's love still exists in this universe. The universe and humanity continue to believe in the existence of God, reminding us that from the day we came into this world, we have been given what we need to survive. Through our mother, we receive our first nourishment; nature gives us air and water; plants give us food; and the sun and moon become part of the rhythm of our lives. Then why do we worry so much? We have been given a brain to think, understand, and survive with happiness. We also need to build strong relationships with nature and with the human beings around us so that this universe becomes a better place to live.

Think about a child who is learning to talk and walk. When parents give positive signals such as, "It doesn't matter if you fall, I am here to hold you," or "You talk, I am here to listen to you," it gives the child so much warmth and confidence. The child begins to feel that whatever happens, my parents are there to protect me and listen to me. That assurance fills a child's life with security from a very young age. A child is learning something new at every step. At the same time, when parents respond by saying, "You are still learning, and I have the patience to listen to you," life becomes easier and more comfortable for the child. Nowadays, we often see people doing this with their pets, but are we giving the same patience to our children? Children listen to their smartphones, while they may not have enough time for their parents. And sometimes, parents too don't have enough time to listen to their children. Somewhere, communication is getting lost on both sides.

When a child comes to us and expresses their feelings, we often find it innocent and respond with warmth. But why should this warmth remain only in childhood? Why can't it continue throughout our lives? I remember a lady who visited us for her voice. She once told me, "One day I was feeling very low, and I simply went and hugged my son." Her son's reaction was, "How come, Mom? You didn't do this all these years, and now you felt like hugging me?" There is so much depth in our emotions, and we make so many efforts to express them. Why can't expressing love, affection, and warmth become a part of our everyday life? The emotional support we give to another human being, along with an honest and warm physical touch, can relieve a lot of stress from the body. Sometimes, a simple hug or a few words of reassurance can communicate much more than a long conversation.

When we value ourselves, our relationships, our work, our environment, our duties, and our time, it makes a huge difference to our lives. When you feel the presence of God around you; when a child can come to their parents and talk about even the smallest or most meaningless things; when parents can happily converse with their growing children; when a partner comes to you and says, "I want to fall in love with you again and again"; when your employees say, "We feel comfortable working with you and being around you"; when an owner can say, "I can trust my employees"; when a friend says, "I am always there for you in your good and bad times"; when a community supports you to grow; and when you live in a country where you feel safe, that is when you truly begin to value everything around you. And when we learn to value ourselves, our relationships, and the people around us, perhaps our universe too becomes filled with more positive energy.