Four ways to create meaningful connections with others.
- Seeing the strengths in others: People wish to be truly seen and heard. I many conversations people do not always truly see the depth of the other person. Practice active constructive responding (please search for this exercise in our search for full description and examples).
- Inspire and Motivate: Support the other person when appropriate and inspire them. For example, if the other person wishes to start exercise, you could offer to be their gym buddy and be an accountability partner.
- Partake in state of flow activities: The state of flow, coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, is a mental state where individuals become fully immersed in an activity, experiencing intense focus, creativity, and enjoyment. In flow, time seems to disappear, and actions feel effortless yet highly productive. It occurs when the challenge of a task matches one’s skills, creating a balance between engagement and competence. This state enhances performance, fosters learning, and promotes well-being. Common in activities like sports, arts, or problem-solving, flow arises when distractions fade, goals are clear, and immediate feedback is present, making it a key driver of personal fulfillment and peak performance.
- Explore a persons values: The “Values Dialogue” Exercise – (1) Choose a calm, distraction-free setting. (2)Ask the other person questions such as: – “What’s most important to you in life?” – “Can you share a time when you felt proud of your decisions or actions?” – “What motivates you to make difficult choices?” (3) Listen actively without interrupting, and reflect back what you hear to confirm understanding. (4)Share your own values for mutual exchange.
By using the above 4 exercises and authentic strategies consistently, you will build meaningful connections with others.