Our Most Important Relationship

On the way to Louisville.

The healthiest relationships will be between people who honor this in themselves and in each other.

How I see it:

We enter and exit this world with the companionship of our souls. During our time here, one of our purposes is to sustain a connection to our inner wisdom that nurtures and guides us through a world that can, at times, feel cold and unforgiving. Our soul doesn’t judge, fix, or demand anything from us. It doesn’t require us to be better or achieve more. Its love is unwavering, like a loyal dog who simply wants us to pause, be fully present, and see ourselves as it does.

The challenge lies in the neural pathways we form from societal conditioning that undermines this essential relationship with ourselves. Instead, we can learn to project our strengths, and even our shadows, onto others. We can then become disillusioned when they fail to meet our expectations.

Neglecting this crucial relationship with ourselves can lead to superficial or intense relationships fraught with drama. We can end up unconsciously resenting others for our own sense of disconnection.  This can drive addiction, various symptoms, or even chronic health conditions.

Instead of romantic comedies about finding a soulmate and living happily ever after, we need more narratives of people finding peace within themselves. “I complete me.” The most fulfilling relationships happen between individuals who cherish this inner connection in both themselves and others.

Below is a blessing I often include in birthday cards for loved ones. This week, I share it with myself—and with you—in celebration of your own arrival.

Read the full article on Substack