"Give and you shall receive." We know this, but how often do we practice it?
At the root of so many relationship problems is that people stop giving to each other—or they give the wrong things.
This is very common in parent-child relationships. parents are more likely to give children" things" rather than experiences. Because young people WANT "things," parents mistakenly believe that is what their children NEED.
Years ago, Charles Frances Adams (son of President John Quincy Adams, grandson of President John Adams, and President Abraham Lincoln's minister to England) wrote in his diary one day, "Took my boy fishing today. A wasted day." His son, Brook Adams, wrote in his diary the same day, "Went fishing today with my father. Greatest day of my life."
Any good relationship, whether it be at home or at work, is built on giving of yourself. It can be referred to by different terms—such as caring, service, or recognition—but it all boils down to giving.
Here are some considerations to improve relationships with anyone with whom you live or work:
- GIVE AT UNEXPECTED TIMES.
- GIVE WHAT THE OTHER PERSON WOULD APPRECIATE.
- GIVE EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT.
- GIVE WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN.
Follow these simple ideas of giving, and notice how people respond. Then notice how YOU feel. There will be some wonderful outcomes.
