HOLD YOUR LINE
Four-Part Blog Challenge: “ATTRACTING YOUR TRUE TEAM!”
This Week’s Soul Challenge: HOLD YOUR LINE!
In this series, we have explored three types of friendships, our ability to be authentic with the people in our lives who matter, and what choices are available to us should we need to stay true to ourselves in difficult relationships.
In the final challenge of this four-part series, you will construct a list of “minimum requirements” for any positive relationships in your life! In three simple steps, you will mindfully identify the most important attributes you desire in the people you hang out with – for you to feel safe, respected, loved, and supported: as you should be!
When you create your criteria list – you are not saying to the world that you are “better than,” rather, you are simply asserting values and traits that meet your needs and life requirements. All of us have different requirements and values based on our upbringing, cultures, self-esteem, and a whole host of personality characteristics and individual desires. You must prioritize yourself and ensure every relationship is adding to the quality of your life and not detracting from it!
“Relationships take time and energy. If you were buying stock or investing in a company, you would ensure that your investment is likely to give you a good return! Your relationships are no different! In this week’s challenge, you will articulate your investment criteria and desired returns from each and every one of your relationships!”
Finally, it is not selfish to make demands of how you will be treated by those in your life, rather, it is necessary for discernment. You only have so much time and energy to give, when you decide who is worthy of getting it, that is precisely when you rid yourself of those who don’t support you, to make room in your life for your TRUE TRIBE!
This Week’s SOUL CHALLENGE: HOLD THE LINE!
The Challenge: Creating your HOLD THE LINE Criteria for positive and supportive relationships in all areas of your life.
Preparation: Have your journal ready, pen in hand, and close your eyes. Take three cleansing breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth: counting to four on the inhale, and five on the exhale.
Step 1: Define what attributes you demand in all your relationships moving forward.
Finish this sentence: “I only want people in my life who…(finish this sentence)….”
Let me give you an example of a few of mine:
“I only want people in my life who…are open-minded and allow for diversity of beliefs.
“I only want people in my life who…treat all people with respect and offer kindness.
Take a few moments to make as many positive “hold the line” criteria as you can! Once you do this, rank the criteria – noting most specifically your top three.
Step 2: Assess your relationships against your top three Hold Your Line criteria.
Take a moment to review all the people in your life, those with whom you enjoy great relationships, and those who challenge you. When you assess them against your top three criteria for relationship happiness, how do they all stack up? Make note of what you learn by assessment.
For the people in your life that do not meet your top three criteria, do you see any patterns? Do you see opportunities to assert your criteria in a way that would improve those relationships? Or do these relationships take more time or energy than it is worth to you? Who are you ready to release that no longer serves you, making room for new and positive relationships?
Take note of the good relationships you have that meet your top-hold-the-line criteria? Is there a pattern there? Do you spend enough time investing in those good relationships, or are you taking them for granted? How can you make good choices to improve what is already giving you a great return on your relationship investment?
Step 3: Make a conscious decision to invest your time and energy wisely.
And, armed with this important knowledge, make sure that you are getting back what you need, because you are amazing, important, and worthy of love, support, and respect!
Until Next Time,
Live Well, Love Well, Lightwell the World
