Sean Covey writes about a Relationship Bank Account in his advice to teens and their parents. He writes about how, through your actions, you can make deposits that strengthen the relationship and withdrawals that weaken the relationship. What constitutes a deposit or a withdrawal depends on each person's unique needs and expectations from the relationship.
I was thinking about this bank account analogy today with regards to the favours that our friends ask of us. There are some people, who we'd do just about anything for if they asked us. Beyond that, we're actually happy when they ask us to do things. We're honored. It's like they've got VIP status at our bank and they get bonus points for their transactions.
Conversely, there are people who don't have that status. These are the random people we hardly know who make extraordinary requests. When they make such requests, it's like they're trying to write a cheque for a sum that's greater than the balance in their account. Not only will they not be able to cash that cheque, but the account will be hit with a stiff NSF fine as well.
yes, i agree and i think those are the requests that really push us to sit and question our intentions - and challenge ourselves on whether we can give without a sense of appreciation, reciprocation or acknowledgement and what part of ourelves do we have to pull on to be able to fulfill such requests...
ReplyDeleteJazakiAllah khair for the reminder, my friend. I needed that one.
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