Self-Love: Intrapersonal Relationships
Updated: Oct 8, 2021
By: Tyler Williams
(Source: Getty)
Everywhere we look, there are many relationships happening around us. This is not referring to the intimate relationships that involve sucking their faces in public. While there may be one type of relationship, let’s observe the other relationships that are just as important as romantic relationships.
In this life, there are two types of relationships: interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. Our focus will be on the latter. An interpersonal relationship is an association between two or more people that may range from fleeting to enduring, according to Lumen Learning. These are the relationships we form in our external world. We connect by a wide variety of outlets aside from talking face to face. Lumen Learning also states that these relationships may be regulated by law, custom, or mutual agreement, and are the basis of social groups and society as a whole. “A relationship is normally viewed as a connection between individuals, such as a romantic or intimate relationship, or a parent–child relationship”. The purpose of this type of relationship is to brainstorm ideas, discuss plans that range from invigorating workout to a wedding reception to world domination.
(Source: Getty)
Intrapersonal skills are all about self-awareness and controlling your own internal attitudes and inner processes, according to Matter. These relationships involve you, yourself, and no one else. They are formed in our internal world and we connect with ourselves through introspection, meditation, and journaling.
Matter points out the following:
“People who are self-motivated, focused, and confident are said to have great intrapersonal skills. Those people exude self-confidence because they are confident. They know who they are and what they are capable of producing and creating. Others seem to naturally gravitate toward them because they carry an air of strength and positivity everywhere they go”.
The purpose of this type of relationship is to give expert advice about how you feel or think about a specific topic, issue, or experience. It is considered expert advice because only you can be an expert of yourself.
Boundaries
Speaking of being an expert of yourself, it is important to take care of yourself. That is one of keys to maintaining healthy relationships; in order to give love, you have to give yourself love first. This is where boundaries come in. Indigo International says that intrapersonal boundaries occur within your mind. You put positive limits on the thoughts that you allow yourself to think.
Boundaries are important because it can help people from unnecessary drama. It can even save lives from danger. Boundaries are a way of saying that you value yourself. Here’s a scenario to consider.
Imagine if you are on a stranded island on a cool night with your close friends and everyone is in need of heat. You have a lighter in your possession, but there are no twigs or branches on the island. How will that problem be solved? Will you burn yourself to make other people warm? Or, will you find something sustainable for the night to keep everyone warm? It has to be the latter option. It’s a win-win for everyone and no one gets hurt in the process. Boundaries are needed for survival and self love.
Inner Belief System
Another way to engage within yourself is to reflect or evolve on your internal belief system. “Someone who is good at intrapersonal communication and actions such as intrapersonal skill developments will eventually develop a good self-concept about his/her self. They will also develop a good idea about their own personality and identity”, said Pediaa. Ultimately, having personal beliefs shows that you have authenticity and are willing to stand for something. Some people will run into you with a pessimistic point of view and will even get to the point of nihilism; the belief that life is essentially meaningless. Those people are only telling you half of the story.
Life is meaningless when you think it is. The key word is you. We underestimate the power within us. Rene Descartes, a French philosopher said, “I think, therefore I am.” In other words, anytime you think of a thought, it has a possibility of becoming your reality. So when someone thinks that life is meaningless, that’s their reality. Their perception is their reality. Yet, when you think positively and speak positive affirmations over your life, your perception is altered and that’s how you become the expert of yourself.
(Source: HerWay)
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