Clay Nelson, Life Balance: Get Connected — and Stay Connected

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By Clay Nelson, Life Balance

A perfect family — a connected family — is one that works and plays together, and is there for one another.

With the holidays upon us, there may be more “connections” being made than you really care to have. Before you get hooked by the thought of making nice with your distant fourth cousin over dinner, think about this:

We all have relationships with people we don’t see or talk to very frequently. However, when we are together, it’s like we’ve not missed a beat. There is no awkward silence. There is no wondering, who is this person? We simply “be” when we are with them.

What is it about those relationships that are different from those we are disconnected from?

» We feel safe.

» We feel no need for pretense.

» We feel no pressure to be someone we aren’t.

» We communicate fully and completely.

Knowing this, why not re-create this in all of your relationships?

» Make others feel safe and secure.

» Give up worrying about what others are going to think of you.

» Give others room to be who they are. They’ll give you the same.

» Communicate fully and completely. You’ll teach others how to communicate.

» Be patient, and your family will be patient with you.

» Give to others what you want to get back.

In the end, the key to being connected with family and staying that way long after the warm and fuzzy holidays have passed is being with them in the same way you want them to be with you.

Be careful not to get stuck in believing that somehow our relationships are flawed if they don’t look like the ones on Leave It to Beaver. The perfect family — the connected family — is the family who works together, plays together and knows that they love one another and will be there for one another no matter what.

Getting connected doesn’t have to take a lot of time and it doesn’t require money. It only requires that you get committed to having quality relationships with those you love.

Take the opportunity that the holidays bring to connect with your loved ones. Get in the habit of being connected and enjoy the happiness and fun that those relationships bring. Then, when the craziness of 2009 comes barreling along, you’ll have a great foundation to carry you through.

Santa Barbara resident Clay Nelson founded Clay Nelson Life Balance™ to provide businesses and individuals with what may be missing in their lives: purpose, personal and business planning, fun, effective delegation through team management, and accountability. Click here to download Clay’s complimentary e-book, The Balanced Life — How to Put Fun, Family and Financial Freedom into Your Business and Personal Life. Click here to subscribe to the free podcast of The Clay Nelson Life Balance™ Hour radio show at 2 p.m. Wednesdays Pacific time.

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