I?ve been thinking a lot about friendship/relationships over the last few weeks. I recently had my flat broken into while I was in bed asleep which is pretty damn scary. It certainly has left me shaken up but equally it?s shown me how many of my friends have really SHOWN UP BIG TIME. I?m not naming any names as you know exactly who you are and know what a special role you play in my life.
Friendships and relationships, even workplace colleagues nearly always come to an end ? as in the natural circle of life. For a large part, the nature of life is constant change. And change can be a real bitch to say the very least. It can be totally devastating.
You can stake all of your certainty, comfort and security on this one thing that you know for certain ? then poof overnight something happens (e.g redundancy, divorce, death, car accident) and that comfort is changed forever.
Comfort is all about framing. Putting something through a different lens to view in a different way. For example, that terrible job wasn?t actually that horrible, it taught me patience and helped me hone in on my passion. It taught me resilience and the importance of showing up.
For me, when relationships dissolves, it isn?t always a devastating loss, they can be an amazing experience for which I was so fortunate to have in the first place.
This quote was once shared with me by a wise old lady, my dear old Nana Joan. Kate she said to me, ?People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person?.?.
To this very day, I can put friends, acquaintances, travel buddies, ex-boyfriends, business partners, clients, colleagues into one of these three categories.
?When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty; to provide you with guidance and support; to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be there. ?Then, without any wrongdoing on your part?the relationship will end.?
?When some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of job. Believe it. It is real.? But this is only for a short period of time.
?LIFETIME relationships teaches you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life?. ? source is unknown.
Do you think you can classify people into these three categories? Go ahead and give it a go with a handful of people you know. Do these three categories ring true to you ? I?d love to hear your thoughts.
Kate Windebank: Career & Business Coach | Personal Brand Consultant | Tech Lover| Interests in Entreperneurship & the Future of Work. Let?s connect at Kate Windebank
