This post is the fourth post in a series entitled Keys To Unlocking Great Relationships. Read the previous entries in this series here.

In today’s post, I wanted to share a simple concept that improved the quality of my relationships:

Think Outside The Box

You might be thinking, “Well that sounds nice, but what does that really mean, and how it will it make my relationships better?” What I mean by thinking outside the box is trying to get a different perspective on the relationship you want to improve. So often we find ourselves in a relationship that is stuck in a rut due to the daily grid of routines, assumptions, and negative communication patterns. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to help think outside the box in your relationships:

1) Have I made an active effort to see things from this person’s point of view? Or have I thought about what it might be like to be in a different type of relationship with this person (co-worker, boss, etc)

2) Have I ever (or recently) stepped out of my comfort zone in this relationships? Are there ways I can try to learn or do something new in order to connect with this person? Could I find a way to serve this person, or help meet a need for them?

3) What lenses am I viewing this person though? Have they become clouded so I only see certain aspects of this person instead of viewing them as a whole?

4) Could I consider praying for this person (and our relationship) on a regular basis?

I think this last one is the one I need to do the most. Being that I am a pretty vocal person, I tend to think that all relationships can be improved by talking. However, I am learning that sometimes prayer is the most powerful thing I can do to improve the quality of my connections.

P.S. Make sure to check out my post from earlier today. Two posts in one day… its been an exciting day!