Pushing Your Relationships Beyond “Normal” Boundaries

Loved Like No Other

Part 3 – Pushing Your Relationships Beyond “Normal” Boundaries

Relationships, nothing more than human interactions
In today’s society or any society for that matter, we take it for granted that every human interaction is important.   The Bible calls the people we often overlook, our neighbors.  What this tells me is that your neighbor is important.  Better stated, you can’t have deep relationships without having an interaction with a neighbor. If there were a hierarchical order, neighbors would be level 1 relationships and friends would be level 2 relationships.  In this installment we want to focus on level 2 relationships, the friend.  So let’s define…

Rules uncommon friends live by – defining friendships

Michael Hyatt‘s definition:  “someone who takes you by the hand and leads you back to yourself.” ~ from This is Your Life podcast
No-Longer-Common’s definition: one who is willing to fight for you being you.

The unearned relationships
The most important lesson you must learn in order to be a friend is that you’re not a person’s friend because they do something for you.  When you decide you’re a friend to someone then you are just that, a friend, no matter what they do in return. With this said, no one can ever lose your friendship.  We’re talking about uncommon friendships.  Most of us have experienced the opposite of this and lost a friend because of something you did or didn’t do.  If you want meaningful relationships try a new approach otherwise continue the normal way and experience the same normal results.

There’s only one side to friendships.
[Now is a great time to have one of my left moments.]
Who told you in the first place that friends had to do something to retain your friendship?  Where’s the contract they signed?  If you require ordinary friendships then next time you make a friend give them a contract.  Let them know upfront that if they hurt your feelings, the relationship is over.  If they over step your unspoken imaginary boundaries, let them know the relationship is terminated.  If they borrow from you without returning what they borrowed in the time frame you wanted, let them know the contract is null and void.  Oh how I would love to be a recipient of your imaginary contract, I’d tell you where you could place your weak, ordinary, average, common friendship.  Friendships aren’t double-sided.  They are one-sided.  If you say you’re someone’s friend, be someone’s friend; even if they don’t return the friendship. We’re talking about uncommon friendships.  If you want to know about “common” stuff, you need to tune in to someone who doesn’t want you to go beyond what’s “common”.  On the other hand, if you want to take life to the edge of your world and step off, go with me.  On the other side of “common” awaits your next extraordinary relationship.

What outcome would you have if you took 100% responsibility of the friendships you’ve experienced over time?  Leave us a comment.