As social beings, relationships are functional cornerstones in our lives. Whether romantic, companionship, related loved ones, extended friends, and even acquaintances, how we involve ourselves with those around us and what is given back to us can create meaning and richness in our lives, and shape how we relate to the wider world. 

We might find that our relationships can offer us many different experiences of interaction. Some of them might bring us up, some might bring us down, some might have wisdom to offer and some might look to us to learn. 

Whatever the action in our interaction, this offers us a place and purpose, and can also provide an opportunity for self-discovery, mirroring, self-reflecting and growth, both the good and the bad. 

This series of articles will explore the nature of relationships and their position in our lives and how they can improve our wellbeing; counting even those that might seemingly harm our wellbeing. It will look at the good the bad and the ugly, and bring it back to ourselves, because ultimately our own relationship that we hold with ourselves is of the utmost importance. 

Whether helping or hindering, taking stock of those we associate with and spend our time with is important especially if we are looking to develop, grow or completely change our lives. The voices around us can make or break us sometimes, and in effort to better ourselves, it is important for us to properly recognise this.

Above all, we are the unfaltering constant in our own lives and developing a healthy and nurturing relationship with ourselves is essential to getting the most out of life. This self-relationship can also determine the grounds for our external relations with others so, it is an important point to address. 

Looking at our expectations and coping with disappointment with others and potential heartbreak are important factors to increase the quality of relationships we have. 

When people think about relationships, they mostly think of what they want from others, what kind of partner they want, what sort of relationship they want from friends, from mum or dad or siblings etc. But a major point that we miss as individuals is what kind of partner would we want to be, friend, daughter, sister brother etc. 

Our relationships are not just about what we get from others, it is about what we give also. That can bring us equal or potentially greater good feelings. 

This series will cover relationships in many lights as they can be an important element of our existence. Some of these to come include the below:

• Healthy relationships 
• Toxic relationships 
• Abusive relationships 
• Addictions in relationships 
• Addicted to relationships 
• How to make our relationships better
• Our relationship with ourselves
• Expectations
• Coping with heartbreak 

This series hopes to look at each of these topics and delve more deeply, especially for those that can some times be more difficult to approach.