A Relationship with Self
The most important relationship we have in our lives
is with our selves, mind, body and spirit.
And even though we are the only ones
who are present at every moment of our lives
—from birth onward—
this relationship can be
the most difficult one to cultivate.
This may be because
society places such emphasis
on the importance
of being in a romantic partnership,
even teaching us
to set aside our own needs
for the needs of another.
Until we know ourselves, however,
we cannot possibly choose
the right relationship
to support our mutual growth
toward our highest potential.
By allowing ourselves
to be comfortable with being alone,
we can become the people
with whom we want to have a relationship.
Perhaps at no other time in history
has it been possible for people to survive,
and even thrive,
while living alone.
We can now support ourselves
financially, socially, and emotionally
without needing a spouse for survival
in any of these realms.
With this freedom,
we can pursue our own interests
and create fulfilling partnerships
with friends,
business partners,
creative cohorts,
and neighbors.
Once we’ve satisfied our needs
and created our support system,
a mate then becomes someone with whom
we can share the bounty of all we’ve created
and the beauty we’ve discovered
As we move away from tradition
and fall into more natural cycles
of being in the world today,
we may find that there are times
where being alone nourishes us
and other periods in which
a partnership is best for our growth.
We may need to learn to create spaces
to be alone within relationships.
When we can shift our expectations
of our relationships with ourselves and others
to opportunities for discovery,
we open ourselves to forge new paths
and encounter uncharted territory.
Being willing to know and love ourselves,
and to find
what truly makes us feel deeply and strongly,
gives us the advantage
of being able to attract and choose the right people
with whom to share ourselves,
whether those relationships fall into recognizable roles or not.
Choosing to enjoy being alone
allows us to fully explore
our most important relationship—
the one with our true selves.
Spiritus Silentium 