Connect and Grow

I feel the need of relationships and friendship, of affection; of friendly intercourse…I cannot miss these things without feeling, as does any other intelligent man, a void and a deep need.

--Vincent van Gogh

We have all felt the deep need for friendship and the sadness that comes from losing a friend. Sometimes we need to let go of relationships and move on in order to improve our lives. Not all relationships and friendships are good for us. When you find yourself in one of life's predicaments, true friendship and caring make itself known.

The test of a friendship (or a relationship) is not always found in the good times but often makes its mark when times are tough. A true friend will not desert you when you are lonely, sick, broke, or depressed. The practice of yoga, which it should be stated is far beyond the physical practice of attending a hatha asana class, teaches us the value of relationships.

It is through relationships that we learn and grow. Relationships teach us that we are all interconnected; meaning we are all one. As humans we all share the same air, share the same earth, and feel the same emotions. We are all interdependent. This dependency is about the universality of energy. We all come from the same source and we all depart from earth as the same form of energy exchange. It is the understanding of this ultimate oneness that brings about acceptance and tolerance. Friendship understands another person's needs and then it reaches out with caring to support even when we cannot fully understand or comprehend the life's journey of another person. Friendships give us the opportunity to discover things about ourselves. We learn and grow through our relationships with other people.

It is the interchange of thoughts and ideas that bring about creativity. But sometimes our creativity demands that we separate so that we can reconnect with ourselves on a deeper and more fulfilling level. We must be willing to release and let go without fear of abandonment. As we connect with others we realize that together we all create the collective consciousness of the universe. What happens to one of us happens to all of us on some level. By recognizing and sharing our interconnected experiences we realize that it is spirituality that keeps us all intertwined and it is from this spiritual essence that we learn to love, live, share, enjoy, and become responsible to ourselves, to others, and to the universe. Years ago I read a quote that has stuck with me (although the author's name escapes me), it goes like this: "Love is like friendship at its best; a support that does not wait for understanding."

Doctor Lynn www.doctorlynn.com