“The business of business is relationships; the business of life is human connection.” – Robin S. Sharma
We live in a world that is full of opportunities to connect with others. Through social media, texting, cellphones, or taking a walk to the local coffee shop, there are ample ways that we can quickly and easily connect with others. The ways we choose to establish and utilize our connections plays a big role in the way we feel and the experiences we have.
Eric Burns, a Pupil Services and Attendance Counselor for Los Angeles Unified School District, knows the importance of connecting and being connected when working with young people. By establishing authentic connections with his students and colleagues, he is able to positively impact the lives of the people he interacts with.
Burns recalls a time when a colleague requested that he stop by his classroom so that the students would know the two were connected. This connection brought a greater bond of trust between the teacher and the students based on their mutual respect for Burns.
Regardless of how many opportunities we have to connect with the people around us, making the connection is our choice. We must open our eyes, and our hearts, to the positive possibilities for relating to the people around us. When we make the choice to connect in a positive way with the people in our community, something magical happens. We begin to see others through the eyes of love, rather than fear.
There was a student who had a rather overbearing mother. She was constantly intervening on his behalf, and openly sharing her bold opinions about his life, and what he was capable of. Sometimes those opinions were good and sometimes they were not so good. The student felt disconnected from the process of his own education, and from his mother.
As we worked together to get a fresh perspective on the situation, the student began looking at things through a new lens. He started to see that his mother was doing her best to stand up for him, even if there were times when she was reacting out of fear.
He also started to see that it was his job to speak up for himself and establish the types of connections that he desired to be having with his friends, teachers, and family.
Over time, his mother noticed that he was being more proactive in his life. She started to relax and give him more room to make choices. His success in school and his relationships at home improved because of his new, empowered approach to connecting with the world.
It is never too late to establish new connections with your world. If you are feeling like an outsider in any area of your life, take some time to reflect on the types of relationships you would like to have. Think about ways that you can begin to foster those relationships.
Often, the first step is to appreciate yourself and the people in your life in a new way. Make lists of the positive qualities in yourself and the people around you. Compliment people when something positive jumps out at you. Open up to new possibilities for sharing your unique talents in meaningful ways. If you do these things, with no concern for the outcome, you will be surprised by the results. The whole world is waiting for you to connect.
Edward Biagiotti is the Inclusion Specialist for Culver City Unified School District. He is also co-host of the popular radio show, Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed, to find out more, or to share your thoughts with Ed, go to www.DarrellandEd.com.
