Reading Corner

Links related to the weekly posts.

 

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This week, we wrote about why relationships last, and named acceptance, acknowledgment, and appreciation as the prime factors. Here are some articles discussing their importance.

The Importance of Appreciation in a Relationship “I feel, as human beings, we constantly crave for positive attention. And appreciating someone is the best way to go about doing it. The problem starts when we don’t even notice how we slipped into the habit of taking each other for granted and stopped caring for, and appreciating each other. This leads to other problems – arguments, frustration, resentment and suddenly we begin to wonder if this relationship is meant to work out.”

The Five Keys to Mindful Loving “In his book, How To Be An Adult in Relationships, David Richo talks about the Five A’s that help relationships flourish and deepen into real fulfillment. Too often, we don’t really ask ourselves, “What do I really want in my relationships?” Usually we know what we don’t want or don’t like, but that doesn’t help lead us in the right direction. Richo’s Five A’s are: Attention, Acceptance, Appreciation, Affection, and Allowing.”

The Importance of Acknowledgement: How It Impacts Relationships, Work, and Communication “We all crave recognition and validation for our efforts, achievements, and contributions. Acknowledgement plays a crucial role in our lives, influencing our sense of self-worth and overall well-being. Whether it’s in personal relationships, professional settings, or everyday conversations, understanding why acknowledgement matters can transform the way we connect with others.”

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This week, we wrote that spreading peace requires being peaceful. Here are some articles on attaining inner peace and how that can impact the greater community.

Inner Peace Is The Key For World Peace “Inner peace is the key for world peace. You cannot have world peace with individuals who are boiling from the inside ready to explode. If such people are at the helm of affairs then not only the person explodes, but the countries and communities explode.”

Inner Peace as a Contribution to Human Flourishing: A New Scale Developed from Ancient Wisdom “Although philosophers and theologians have emphasized the centrality of inner peace for the good life, this concept has not generally been included in research on human flourishing. The authors argue that inner peace contributes to a more complete form of flourishing for both religious and secular people.”

Basic Meditation Technique for Inner Peace “The sharing of loving kindness is something we can do every day, both before and after daily meditation. A brief period before meditating softens and broadens our minds. The sharing of loving kindness as such helps improve our meditation experience. Sharing loving kindness after meditation spreads the purity of our meditated minds throughout ourselves first, then subsequently towards others.”

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This week, we asked how you can delight in the differences in your relationships. Here are some articles discussing different aspects of this topic.

Why You Should Embrace the Differences In Your Marriage “Having differing opinions, unique interests and your own individual tastes makes your partnership that much greater! Your differences help maintain balance in your home and turns the two of you into a powerhouse couple. The key to making this work is embracing your differences. And recognizing their ability to do good things for your marriage and your family.”

Rebuilding Emotional Safety: How to Accept Differences in a Relationship “In addition to using soft start-ups and practicing fair fighting, another effective tool to establish a healthy emotional environment and safety within a relationship is accepting your partner for who they are. When stress is high or conflict is prominent, it can be easy to criticize your partner or point out their flaws. However, for long-term relationship success, the practice of acceptance and accepting your partner for all that they are promotes understanding, respect, and relationship success.”

How To Embrace Individuality And Authenticity In Marriage “Authenticity in relationships means being true to yourself and expressing your honest feelings and thoughts. It means being truly yourself. Being vulnerable and creating a safe space for open communication. Authenticity builds trust and connection more than pretending or wearing mythical masks. In any marriage, you’ll find differences that make each partner unique. These differences aren’t obstacles but opportunities for growth and understanding.”

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This week, we said that you have the power to spread peace in all your relationships. Here is some practical advice on how to do that.

4 Small Ways to Spread Peace for a Better World “World peace just won’t happen until we grow inner peace on an individual level. One person at a time. If you want to start building a better, kinder world from the inside out, here are four small ways to spread peace every single day. It’s the best place to start. One of the best ways to spread peace in the world is to recognize your own capacity to bring peace into the little things you do every day.”

How to Find Inner Peace and Happiness in the Chaos “Inner peace is possible, and you don’t need to meditate on a mountaintop or break the bank for a wellness retreat in order to find it. Carving out time to relax is wonderful, but it’s amid the frantic pace of everyday life when we need serenity the most.”

The Dalai Lama’s Lessons on How to Build Peace “Violence leads to more violence, if you want to build, you must be committed to non-violence. Only through compassion and inner peace, can one spread peace in the world. Inner peace leads to a peaceful individual and then this peaceful individual can build a peaceful family, then a peaceful community, then a peaceful world.”

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This week, we wrote about how to recognize that each relationship is a unique treasure. Here are some articles that describe describe the current thinking in this area.

“We-Talk” Is Linked to Happier and Healthier Relationships “‘I-talk’ refers to the frequent use of first-person singular pronouns, such as ‘I,’ ‘me,’ and “mine,” when writing or speaking. “We-talk” refers to the frequent use of first-person plural pronouns, such as ‘we,’ ‘us,’ and ‘ours.’ Earlier this year, a study from the University of Arizona reported that excessive ‘I-talk’ was an accurate linguistic marker for the likelihood that someone was more prone to general distress and a wide array of negative emotions. (For more, see: ‘Stressed Out? Too Much ‘I-Talk’ Could Be Part of the Problem.’)”

Why autonomy in a relationship is important (+ ways to nurture it) “Humans are social creatures who yearn for belonging and support. But you also must prioritize your own needs and goals to feel like you’re bringing your most authentic self to each relationship. Creating the right balance between reliance and autonomy is tricky and often starts with your relationship with yourself. But fostering autonomy in your relationships might just be the key to enjoying healthy connections.”

The “We” of Healthy Relationships “When couples make a commitment to each other, there is often a transition in how the individuals speak. Instead of ‘I’ did this or that, it becomes ‘we’ did this or that. Or ‘we’ think thus and so. This is not a mere grammatical change. It reflects a profound shift in the self of each member of the couple. That is, the partner becomes a part of the self. This is described in self-expansion theory or the inclusion of other in the self (IOS).”

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