Fit through autumn and winter: Part 9 - Together for the immune system
What would life be without relationships? Friendships help us through dry spells. During heartache or frustration. In a new life situation. In life crises. Friends inspire us, support us, share experiences, stand by our side. Sometimes relationships simply make us happy.
What did the famous doctor Paracelsus say? Love is the best medicine.
In fact, researchers are finding more and more evidence that the most beautiful feeling in the world promotes our health: Love (this includes, but is not limited to, romantic love) increases our well-being, reduces stress and strengthens the immune system.
Wow.
Healthy relationships help your immune system
You can therefore influence your health and strengthen your immune system through relationships. relationships, rich and valuable encounters and closeness with and to people are a major factor for life satisfaction.
We are not made to be alone
Being alone means being disconnected and not connected. We are not primarily talking here about a love relationship, but about the general ability and longing of every person to be in contact with others.
A relationship is the regular interaction between two people in their actions, thoughts and feelings. We can be in contact with the generations before us, after us, with the people next to us and around us. There are good and fruitful relationships and less well-functioning and exhausting relationships. But what exactly makes a good relationship and what are its foundations? More importantly, what does "relationship" mean to you?
Strengthen existing relationships
Trust is the basis for closeness and for building and maintaining a relationship. We therefore take a closer look at this pillar.
People you trust develop better. Denmark is a country with a very high level of trust in international studies. There, if you are ill for several days, you don't have to bring a doctor's note to your employer. And it works. People don't want to betray the trust placed in them.
A relationship begins with trust. If you trust, you are sometimes disappointed. If you mistrust, you will be disappointed more often because your own mistrust leads to people behaving more negatively. It is therefore worthwhile first of all approaching people with trust. And only then, when they have shown that trust is not appropriate, to show a certain degree of scepticism.
Of course it makes sense to trust appropriately. With a stranger, I trust that they mean well and don't want to kill me. However, I would rarely give them my credit card, even if 99 % of the people here would act in a trustworthy manner. I wouldn't give a child my sharpest kitchen knife, but rather one with a lower risk of injury. There is trust here, but at an appropriate level.
9 basic ingredients for trust
In her "recipe book", Eva Schulte-Austum has written "Anyone can trust". 9 basic ingredients for trust that define trust in a great way. TRUST consists of:
V - Confidentiality
E - rity
R - espect
T - ransparency
R - eliability/reliability
A - sincerity
U - support
E - mpathy
N - eutrality
(Have the courage
- Check: Be honest with yourself and check where you have weaknesses that make it difficult for others to trust you.
- Think about: Which behaviours do you want to strengthen to make it easier for others to trust you?
- Remember: Think of situations in which you have had a positive experience with someone and consider what trust-promoting behaviour this person displayed.
- Address weaknesses: If you see behaviour in important relationships that makes trust difficult, e.g. a lack of willingness to help or a lack of discretion, address this directly: "I often see behaviour X in you. This stresses me out and makes it difficult for me to trust you. But I want to trust you because you are important to me. I'd like to talk to you about it. Is that ok?"
Extra tip: Have you ever consciously thought about what (shared) laughter can achieve? Humour and shared laughter are important foundations of a relationship that bring partners closer together. A secret ingredient for happy partnerships, so to speak. In addition, hearty laughter can relieve everyday pressure and stress. Laughing heartily and from the heart activates your T-cells and strengthens your immune system, thereby boosting your body's defences against countless infectious diseases. What can you laugh heartily about with your friends or partner? A funny film? A comedian you both find funny? Why not plan a pinch of humour into your everyday life today?
The content of this article comes from my swing concept. I also have a course on this:
This course teaches you step by step the - scientifically proven - 8 elements of life that you need for a strong, balanced life.
You get
- Input on all 8 elements of life
- concrete advice on how you can implement them
- Many more practical tips for a strong life
