What is a meaningful relationship?
I did a Google search on the terms “meaningful relationships” and came up with many articles that suggested ways in which we can create meaningful relationships, but fewer articles that suggest what a meaningful relationship is.
Dictionary.com defines “meaningful” as “full of meaning, significance, purpose, or value; purposeful; significant”.
I believe most people would define a meaningful relationship as a personal connection with another person that is full of significance, such as a relationship with a friend or family member. I choose to broaden the definition a bit to include any interaction with others from which there is value. And, to my thinking, there is value in every human connection.
From our daily interactions with co-workers and clients to a kind word or smile to a stranger on the street, all people have value and so does our relationship with them. Living life joyfully and enjoying meaningful relationships is about recognizing the value and purpose in every human interaction.
I don’t have to have all my needs met, feel intense emotion, or enjoy everything someone else does to recognize the meaningfulness in the relationship. A meaningful relationship might be as simple as networking connection that will generate a future job or client lead. A meaningful relationship might exist with a co-worker who tells a great joke and adds humor to my work day. A meaningful relationship might be the Barista who recognizes me and greets me by name.
A meaningful relationship might be present with a blogger who inspires me, even though we’ve never met.
What constitutes a meaningful relationship to you? How do you know when you have one?