Relationships

It seems that in a world where we are so electronically connected, we are more disconnected than ever. In the age of smartphones, FaceTime, the internet, Zoom, and countless technological ways to stay in touch, it feels like we have fallen short in this area over the past decade. There are, of course, other vessels of communication and expression—art, music, and writing have long been dominant ways for individuals to convey emotion, pain, joy, and connection with one another. But somewhere along the line, I think we lost sight of the value of true interpersonal relationships. We’ve traded quick, thirty‑second bites that merely satisfy an immediate need for the deeper effort of investing in real bonds. We can spend countless hours swiping and scrolling on our phones yet still claim we never have time to use them for what they were truly meant: authentic communication.

“Social media do not only impact our relationships with others, they also impact our relationship with ourselves and how we perceive the world around us. Kerkhof et al. (2011) found that compulsive Internet users were lonelier, more depressed, and generally exhibited poorer social skills than noncompulsive Internet users indicating that these negative.” ( Spencer Palmer Christensen Brigham Young University)

Countless families trade “Likes” as a convenient way to soothe the conscience. Or worse, despite the countless ways to stay in touch, we often do not. We have lost the intentional effort to build deep familia bonds, and over time those connections weaken and give way to neglect, disarray, and abandonment.

One Sided Relationships - I am a BIG believer that all relationships should be balanced. I mean that everyone involved ought to take part in nurturing and developing the connection. As a behaviorist, my eyes and mind are constantly observing and analyzing people’s actions and interactions. When we hear the phrase ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, it rings true — behavior reveals priorities and intentions more clearly than promises. From a very young age humans monitor one another; children watch their parents’ every move and listen closely to each word. That early observation becomes our first guidebook, shaping how we navigate the larger world and teaching us what to expect from others.

But our emotional connections in relationships have been traded for thirty seconds of instant satisfaction, endless scrolling through the internet, and fleeting distractions; the art of building meaningful bonds and noticing what slips through our fingers has been weakened, leaving us vulnerable to the pull of the social media world.

Have you stop to make a call to a love one?

Send a text?

Think about that for a bit…

Best,

Tony