This month’s challenge is inspired by the book “It’s Not Just Who You Know“ by Tommy Spaulding. I am woefully challenged in the relationship department. I have had genuine connections with family, friends, and significant others over the years, but rarely ever put in the effort to turn these connections into deeper, long-lasting relationships.
Honestly, in the past as much as I may have mentally understood the importance of relationships in my life, I did not viscerally value human connection. Also, relationship-building is never something I have considered myself skilled in accomplishing. This month I want to be proactive in building and maintaining healthy relationships.
Here are the parameters of the challenge:
- Learn and use people’s names. Outside of my immediate family members and niblings, I am horrible at remembering names. The first day of this month, I will create an Anki deck with names of people in my life that I go through at least once per day. I will input insightful information about them into the deck as I encounter it. During interactions with others, however brief, I will attempt to use the person’s name at least once.
- Write a note to one person each day. I will purchase a large amount of personal stationery that I can use to send notes to people. Until I have that, I will send out emails. The content of the note is not super important; I just want to get into the habit of sending encouraging notes to those in my life to tell them I care about them, they are important to me, or I am thinking about them.
- Find low-cost inspirational books. Giving someone a book can be a great relationship-builder. I will spend a few minutes each day reading and researching short books, pick a couple by the end of the month that I find inspiring, and order several dozen copies. Then, I will have a great gift ready to give anyone with whom I would like to establish a deeper relationship connection.
I am hoping this month’s challenge will jumpstart an ongoing habit in me of cultivating relationships whenever I have the opportunity.
Namaste.
Brian and I read that book – it was pretty good! I do think some people are more natural at this than others, but definitely a good skill to practice. When I teach classes I make it a point to call on kids by their name and if I can’t remember, to just ask each time until I get it. I also like to compliment the child to their parent – this helps me connect the one to the other. I’ve also found that going over a class list (or something like it) with all the names ahead of time, gives me a jumpstart in putting the now mroe familiar name with a new face.