Resource
Relationships are an integral part of our well-being. Our connections with friends, romantic partners, roommates, coworkers, family, and others can have a significant impact on our emotional well-being, our physical health, and even our academic performance.
While relationships may vary in closeness and dynamics, finding a sense of belonging and building connections that are fulfilling and empowering is important for your personal growth and overall satisfaction.
Trust, Respect and Equity
A fulfilling relationship is one based on trust, respect, and equity, where each person is valued, where boundaries are set and respected, and where each person feels safe to be authentic and vulnerable. Equity does not mean “sameness.” Even in the most fulfilling relationships, differences and power dynamics exist. However, power should be divided in equitable ways, and differences met with tolerance and respect. The Equity Wheel below outlines some of the key elements of fulfilling relationships.
Respect, Honesty and Support
While everyone may have different needs and wants for their relationships, the most fulfilling ones are built on the foundations of respect, honesty, and support. This is the standard we should strive towards; however, the reality is relationships are complicated, and it can take work to move toward a fulfilling and empowered relationship. In particular, building equity, like the wheel above describes, requires an awareness of and attention to the power dynamics that may be present. Whether those imbalanced powers are formal (such as one’s position within an institution) or informal (such as one’s gender identity), conscientiously working to navigate those power dynamics in equitable ways is essential to move the relationship toward one that is fulfilling and empowering.