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From the time you are born, the urge to connect and form relationships with other human beings is unavoidable. Humans are social animals by nature, and when you find yourself feeling alone, you are in your most weakened, vulnerable state. Feeling weak and vulnerable never leads to a fulfilling existence, so enriching your life with constant companionship can be a saving grace.
Romantic Relationships Give You a Sense of Security
If you’re single, you’re probably unhappy about it. Maybe you’re still searching for The One, and feel as though you’ll never find them. Maybe your marriage ended in a painful divorce, and you’re feeling the pain of the broken pieces. Maybe you’ve exhausted your local dating pool, or perhaps you don’t know where to find a date online and are simply lost. Regardless of how you got there, there’s a reason why feeling alone can only lead to even more thoughts of negativity and helplessness.
Sharing a close personal bond with someone creates feelings of safety and security, and a decreased frequency of negative thoughts, such as “I’m going to end up alone” or “What’s wrong with me that I can’t get a date?”. Having someone who cares about you boosts your sense of self worthself worth, and you can sleep soundly at night, knowing that you have positively affected that individual, and they have affected you; both of you lives have renewed purpose.
Maintaining Healthy Relationships Increases Happiness
When you meet that special someone and feel that instant connection, it’s like your own personal “On” switch is suddenly flipped, well, on. You find yourself smiling at the mere thought of that person, and the things that would normally get you down may no bother you as much, because there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, or, in this case, there’s someone who can make it all seem trivial just by gracing you with their positive presence.
As for the things that do bother you (i.e., a coworker won’t pull their weight, or maybe your evening commute was especially bad), having a boyfriend/girlfriend/male or female companion means that you get to unload those unnerving feelings on someone else. You don’t have to bottle it up inside, which often leads to depression and anxiety.
Forming Relationships Means You Accept (And Love) Yourself
When you begin a relationship with someone, you need to accept yourself and all of your “flaws” if you expect your partner to accept you in your entirety, too. So, it’s safe to say that being in a close relationship with someone also means that you’re in a close relationship with yourself, too…and who wouldn’t want to be their own best friend?
We are our worst critics, so some self-love can go a long way. If you love yourself, you’ll be more likely to treat your body with respect (the same way that you expect a partner too, right?). Maintaining this expectation in every relationship you form, romantic or not, ideally means you’ll be surrounded by uplifting individuals who will help ensure that you’ll be your best self, no matter the circumstances. Surround yourself with such bright beacons can only light the way to a positive and fulfilled life…game, set, match!
Jon Dulin is the passionate leader of Unfinished Success, a personal development website that inspires people to take control of their own lives and reach their full potential. His commitment to helping others achieve greatness shines through in everything he does. He’s an unstoppable force with lots of wisdom, creativity, and enthusiasm – all focused on helping others build a better future. Jon enjoys writing articles about productivity, goal setting, self-development, and mindset. He also uses quotes and affirmations to help motivate and inspire himself. You can learn more about him on his About page.
I agree with your point on accepting yourself. In my opinion, it’s a really important, but often overlooked point. In order to connect better with others, we have to connect with ourselves first. Have you ever been around someone who doesn’t love or respect themselves? Others treat them that way too and that isn’t a good foundation for a healthy relationship.