Dear friend,
Do you notice how easy it is to feel left out? Unappreciated? Isolated? This goes for your personal life as well as at work.
I have been paying attention to what makes me feel appreciated, loved, valued and connected and it reminded me of a book I read years ago, The Five Languages of Love by Gary Chapman.
According to Chapman, the five ways to express and experience love called "love languages" are:
1. words of affirmation,
2. quality time,
3. receiving gifts,
4. acts of service,
5. physical touch.
Words of affirmation: If this makes you loved you need to hear some of the following: “You did a great job”, “I really appreciate our friendship”, “Wow I can see how much effort you put into making the Holidays special”. Make sure to use kind and compassionate words. Harsh language and criticism are devastating to those who need words to feel loved. And a handwritten note of thanks and gratitude can go a long way in showing someone that you feel they are important. And don’t underestimate the power of praise in front of others. Sincerely acknowledge them in front of others at a virtual cocktail party, business meeting or family gathering.
Quality Time: If you are like some of my friends, this translates into one-on-one personal FaceTime, Zoom or phone calls. Those who value quality time do not want to always share you with others. And this means becoming a good listener. Take the time to reach out one on one and give them your full attention. Or if possible, meet for a walk or at an outdoor café. And for business interactions know that large group Zoom meetings do not always work for those who are introverted or feeling low. They will probably not share what is really going on with them.
Physical Touch: In this time of Covid, personal touch may mean giving a gift certificate for a pedicure or massage. The days of hugging friends and family is not as simple as it used to be and even a good handshake with a colleague may be off limits. But you can do virtual high fives and send virtual hugs. And you may want to consider getting a real-life pet.
Receiving gifts: For me, it is about meaningful gifts that show someone took the time to think of me. The key is to give a gift that represents something the person values. If they love cooking, a new set of top-quality knives or pots would be fabulous, to a gardener, a gift certificate to their favorite garden store would be appreciated and to someone into exercising, a piece of gym equipment, or a personal training session may do the trick. And for those a bit witchy, aromatherapy and crystals are the thing.
Acts of Service: Take the time to go out of your way to do something nice for someone. If you are a techy person, offer to show a friend or co-worker some tips on their new computer, phone or their new smart tv, fashionistas can share ways to look better on zoom , experts in math, language and science can offer to coach kids who are learning at home. Especially now, everyone can use some help, so find something that would be useful to your friends and co-workers.
Work with Barbara - personal transformation and vision coach.
Specializing in : Ancient Rituals, Tarot Readings, Energy Clearing, Spiritual Re-Aligning, Igniting Intuition, Amplifying Emotional Intelligence, and Corporate Wellness.
There are only 17 days left before 2021. This is a powerful time to do a virtual space clearing of your home or office or a ritual to let go of old baggage. If you want to see what is in store for you in 2021, book a reading to gain clarity and guidance.
Many Blessings,
Barbara