By Angel L. Santiago

There are three motives for which we live: the mind, the body, and the soul. The key to living your life to the fullest is having balance in all three areas. You must strive to be well-rounded. Wellness is much more than being free from illness; it is a dynamic process of change and growth. The National Wellness Institute defines it as

“…a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential.” 

The three motives are broken down into 7 areas: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Relationships, Business, and Environment. 

The onset of the pandemic and the social distancing mandate undoubtedly created a relationship health risk in society. Relationship wellness refers to every relationship we have and how we interact in them, including the most significant of all: the one we have with ourselves. In life, we’re in relationship to everything; what we do to support our relationships determines how balanced our lives will be. In order to create healthy relationships, we must first nurture the one we have with ourselves. 

“Until you see me, I do not exist. When you see me, you bring me into existence.”

-Anonymous

The key to successful relationships is seeing others, but this requires you to see yourself first – fully. Once you do, you can begin to accept, embrace, and love yourself. From this perspective, there’s only one relationship you have to work on: the one with yourself. This lightens the load, doesn’t it? How is your relationship with yourself? Do you have a vulnerable and intimate connection with yourself? How well you see and connect with yourself first, on an intimate level, will determine the quality of your relationships. You must bring yourself into existence. 

Intimacy is integral to establishing meaningful connections, and vulnerability is the key to unlocking this characteristic. Contrary to popular belief, intimacy isn’t about passion and romance, intimacy = Into-Me-See. This is more than seeing someone physically; it’s seeing into them, their essence, and allowing them to get close and fully see us. As humans, we have a tendency to “armor up” and place a wall between our feelings and the people we interact with. Whether you’re interacting with loved ones, colleagues, or strangers, authentic human connection takes effort and requires you to be vulnerable. 

Vulnerability and intimacy are vital in establishing meaningful connections. When it comes to being vulnerable and connecting with anyone, don’t worry about getting it right. Instead, get it raw. When you are raw, you’re being real, and when you’re being real – you’ll be all-right. 

My name is Angel Santiago, and I’m a Transformational Coach. Feel free to connect with me via social media under the hashtag #LifeCoachAngel and online HERE.

Blessings,

Angel