Learn External Relationships and How to Relate
Just as internal relationships exist, so too do external relationships, as we will explore in this article. It is also true that external relationships can have a relative impact on internal relationships, depending on the nature of these relationships. More on this will be discussed in the following article.
What Are External Relationships?
These are the relationships between you and me, and between you and other entities, be they living or nonliving. As a human, I maintain relationships with myself that can be both healthy and unhealthy, just as I have external relationships expressed through words and actions. You also interact with other beings, whether consciously or not.
Your environment bridges connections with other objects and beings. You engage with various creatures like reptiles, birds, plants, animals, fish, worms, and even the microscopic microbes, whether benevolent or malevolent, as part of nature. Yet, over the years, we humans have fostered animosity amongst ourselves and towards other species.
There exists hostility and strife between us and other animals. We fear them — animals, insects, reptiles, and others — because they, in turn, fear and attack us when given the opportunity. Consider this: does a scorpion desire to sting you? It does not! It understands the implications of stinging you. But, knowing you might crush it, it will do whatever it can to defend itself against an aggressive and peaceless human.
Indeed, every creature possesses a form of intelligence! Even insects can sense whether you are fond of them or not and may react accordingly. There is a universal language understood by all, the language of love, the language of the divine.
What Were Your Past External Relationships?
Indeed, this is a personal question, one that you can answer in your own way. I find myself pondering it as well. Allow me to share my thoughts here and now, just as you consider your own response, whether mentally or verbally.
My external relationships encompass the connections between myself and the world around me: parents, siblings, friends, foes, neighbors, objects, animals, insects, reptiles, and much more. Interestingly, I have been quite an unusual person in my part of the world since birth and throughout my childhood. This uniqueness persists as I age, day by day.
The ways in which I differ from others impact my external relationships, both positively and negatively. As an introvert, I detest shouting and actions that cause physical harm to myself and those nearby. As a natural scientist, I take pleasure in observing creatures as mundane as houseflies, noting their number of legs, observing their intriguing behaviors, and even attempting interaction.
Yet, this does not imply that I am incapable of hurling a stone or clod of earth at a lizard, ending its life instantly. Such actions were regrettable. My environment shaped my relationships, both external and internal, even during my formative years. Perhaps you’ve experienced something similar. I would be interested to hear about it in the comments.
What Are Your Current External Relationships?
Reflecting honestly on this personal question is crucial, as it is the key to unlocking self-improvement and career advancement. Consider your current relationships and assess their quality in comparison to those in the past.
In my experience, there is constant improvement. While some may feel that the past holds more appeal than the present, I believe that today is significantly better than yesterday, and the promise of tomorrow is even brighter. My future is looking up because I am continually learning more about myself, God, other people, and the vast universe of which I am a mere speck.
My current relationships are better than last year’s, and I am confident that next year’s will be even better. This improvement is not due to external factors, but rather my own actions and mindset. I am the key factor, not the world, God, or others. Relationships are influenced internally, even though they can affect each other. The more I understand myself, the clearer it becomes which things are within my control and which are not. If it’s within my power, I’ll do it; if not, I won’t worry about it. This aligns with my great teacher’s advice: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Blaming God, other people, or political entities does not improve life or resolve issues. These questions are meant to encourage thinking beyond conventional limits. In reality, the ‘box’ is unnecessary. Reflect on your current relationships; how are they faring? What can you do to enhance them? Is your partner always the problem, or can you make changes to better your interactions with others?
Why Do You Have External Relationships?
It’s commonly accepted that having external and internal relationships is a natural aspect of being human. But why are relationships important, if they are important at all? This seems to be a personal matter, as previously mentioned. Let me delve into this further.
I hold that my external relationships exist naturally due to my innate social nature. As humans, we are inherently social creatures. Consequently, my personal preference for relationships is irrelevant; I was born into them. They are a given. Yet, this doesn’t imply that I play no part in them.
We should focus on fostering healthy relationships, not just any relationships. The value of a relationship lies in its quality. Unfortunately, relationships today seem more strained than ever. This may be due to an increase in selfishness as we evolve and advance in our personal and professional lives. In contrast, our ancestors appeared more compassionate and loving, despite their lack of modern knowledge.
Now, I turn the question to you. Why do you think it’s beneficial to have relationships? It’s worth noting that relationships form whether we desire them or not. However, the choice to pursue healthy relationships is ours to make, even in a world that may seem corrupt. People will still care about your troubles regardless.
How Do You Have External Relationships?
Relating to the world is an innate human trait, often occurring without conscious thought. Yet, this doesn’t preclude the opportunity to reflect on your current methods of interaction with people, creatures, and objects, both animate and inanimate. This introspection is personal, prompting you to consider your connections with the world around you.
Here’s my perspective: everything in the universe is interconnected in various ways. This suggests that thoughts can transfer between individuals, animals, and even inanimate objects. At its best, this is a flight of imagination; at its worst, it could be considered deceitful.
The real test lies in the ability to verify such claims. As of now, the existence of ether as a universal medium recording and storing information, such as the tapping of my keyboard, is not a widely accepted belief. On a tangible level, you form physical connections with people through interactions like meetings and handshakes, and mental connections, as previously alluded to in a different context.
In an era of wireless technology enabling global communication, consider yourself a similar device, capable of connecting with others if you tune into the right frequencies. Some may label this as magic or divine intervention. Those adept at navigating these channels may perform acts that appear miraculous, like causing someone to think of you just as you are thinking of them. Such feats are often attributed to spiritual maturity.
Summary
To summarize, this article has explored the concept of external relationships. We’ve discussed their impact on us and how we can enhance them individually. The significance of forming connections with others, in ways both familiar and unfamiliar to us, has been highlighted.
Yet, there is much more to discover about this subject. I invite you to share your perspectives on this article in the comments section below. Continue your learning by reading additional books and articles on the same topic. Enhance yourself; nurture your internal and external relationships. Shalom!
Further Readings
- External Relationships—Management Study Guide.
- The Role of External Relationships—Health Facilities.