The Voluntary Aspect of Relationships

When someone mentions the word "relationship," regardless of whether it is personal or professional, the notion of a connection lasting a long period of time pops into my head. I view them as being much more substantive than, say, encounters that many of us experience throughout each of our days. Perhaps because often times a solid relationship is the result of an extended effort on the part of all parties, I view them as being long-lasting. Relationships are usually things we seek-out and view as being a positive force in our lives. Consequently, the longer they last the more we see them as being beneficial to our lives. Plus, particularly because they are of benefit, they are aspects of life we do what we can to perpetuate.

Granted, relationships can be negative. But when that is the case, such connections are ones we all tend to either avoid or active only as is necessary. But positive or not, there is one thing that all relationships have in-common: they last only as long as we want them to. Relationships are a voluntary act much like voting or deciding to wear tennis shoes. The fact is we can conclude any given relationship we might have at any time we want. How? Simply by no longer engaging with that other person. Yes, it may be awkward or inconvenient, particularly if that "other" is a family member or co-worker. Still, we maintain them because of the perceived benefit we see in them.

I note the voluntary aspect of relationships because of the kind of communicating involved in establishing and maintaining one entails. This includes research: learning of a person's interests and priorities, gaining a sense of how they wish to interact, and, most importantly, gaining their confidence and trust. Yes, achieving such objectives can be and often is work. But such work, when carried out under the mantel of being done voluntarily, becomes more of a building block then it does drudgery. This, then, is part of the joy of public relations work whether it is for one's self or another.