Many days ago, while in discussion with my friend, she asked me whether I am in a relationship? I said, yes! For the past 22 years, her face was filled with a smile, and she replied, “Like you are only 22 years old, then how?” I smiled and replied that there are different kinds of relationships an individual has during the entire lifetime. From birth till death, every individual crosses various relationships with mother, father, siblings, relatives, neighbourhood, friends, teachers, colleagues, and romantic relationship.
A relationship is any association you had between different types of persons, which leads you to familiar with others. It also leads one to be aware of another person and a meaningful understanding of others to establish relations. An interpersonal relationship is defined as the meaningful relationship you maintain with another individual and your bond level. There are different kinds of relationships in your life, like family relationships, friendships, acquaintanceships, and romantic relationships.
Family Relationships: Family or relatives are those whom you are connected through some forms of kinship, may through blood bonding, marriage, romantic relationships, or adoption. The family consists of your siblings, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Family relationship with you from your birth and your parents are the only person who is there till your end. The family relationship is a kind of replicative relationship with sustained love and care. A good relationship with the family has empathy towards each other.
Friends: Friends are people you are not related to, but you choose to interact with them. The best kind of friendship you can develop with trust, respect, and care. The long-lasting friendship is built only with honesty, support, and loyalty. You may have many numbers of friends, but you are close with only a few called “Best friends”. Some may have only a few kinds of friends and do not establish a good relationship. Many consider it abnormal, but it is not so. The number of friends does not matter. If you have physical intimate contact or romantic contact, it is inappropriate for friendship.
Acquaintances: Acquaintances are those you may find in your life, but they are not your friends or relatives. They may be your neighbour, colleague, or someone you have seen a very few times. It is essential to develop politeness and respect to acquaintances to have a harmonious relationship with people around you. It avoids unwanted stress or conflict in your life. There is an equal chance of transforming an acquaintance relationship into a friendship. However, still, the contact with the acquaintance is often minimal.
Romantic Relationships: A romantic relationship is those to whom you are physically and psychologically attracted. In a romantic relationship, you maintain intimate contact with the other. The romantic relationship establishes between the couples may be married or unmarried. A romantic relationship lasts long if connected through love, care, empathy, and trust.
Are boundaries in a relationship necessary? How do we establish logical boundaries in a relationship?
Boundaries are something that you mark as a border. Personal boundaries are the guidelines, rules, or limits you create for other people to behave towards them and how you will handle when someone passes the limits you set. Healthy boundaries are essential components of your self-care. Suppose you haven’t established a clear boundary in a relationship. In that case, you feel people taking advantage of you, depleted, and others take granted. It may have the possibility of developing resentment, hurt, burnout, and anger. Unhealthy Boundaries lead to Sharing too much too soon, a weak sense of your own identity. Healthy Boundaries allow you to develop self-esteem and self-respect, assertiveness, empowerment. Healthy boundaries serve the critical function of allowing people to take responsibility for themselves and their actions. The feeling of manipulates and violation is avoided if people have well-developed boundaries. It leads to healthier relationships. An individual’s boundaries can help them determine whom to let into their lives and to what extent. Boundaries also serve to help an individual develop distinction been people to maintain their own identity. When a person has weak boundaries, it may be more challenging to separate their feelings from others.