Friends. Family. Community. These are a few of Sheep’s favorite things. So it makes sense that 2015 is all about deepening bonds and strengthening your sense of belonging. Here are a few ways to get close and connect during Sheep Year.
Connect through Creativity. Your inner artist is calling. And it wants to make friends! Sheep year is all about getting in touch with your muse and sharing it with others. So why not take a photography class? Join a knitting club. Or invite friends for your own little creative shindig. A book club. A cooking adventure. A craft night. Whatever the vision, gather with others to inspire, express and mingle!
Put down your phone: Virtual reality isn’t Sheep’s thing. But the here and now is. So put away those distractions. And connect with the folks right in front of you. Here’s the thing. The Internet can wait. Real life connections can’t. How about starting a “no gadgets at the dinner table” rule? Just you, your loved ones and some real-time conversation!
Nurture: Is a friend feeling sick? Why not drop off some soup? Did that stranger just drop all their groceries? How about helping them pick them up? Sheep is a cuddly and warm creature. It’s part of their nature to make others feel nourished. So going out of your way to make others feel loved is bound to up your sense of love. Win-win!
Cultivate empathy: How do we do that? By putting ourselves in other people’s shoes. Nope, not what YOU would do in their shoes. But what it feels like to look at the world from their perspective. The more we can see things from another’s viewpoint, the more we can understand others. And the more we understand others, the closer we get to them!
Listen: Want to know the best way to get someone’s perspective? By listening. Deep listening. But it can be pretty hard to do that when we’re thinking about what we’re going to say next, right? So why not see if you can just be in the moment with someone? Let go of trying to impress them. Let go of trying to make a point or win an argument. As your conversations deepen, your bonds should too!
Communicate: No need to be only ears. Speaking honestly is just as important. Did your pal do something that hurt you? Don’t sweep it under the rug. That can lead straight to resentment and distance. Not exactly a recipe for closeness. Why not share your feelings instead? Nope. Not your judgments about the other person. Just how it affected you. The more truthful we are about our emotions, the more real our relationships. Can’t go wrong there!
Reach out: There are so many ways to build community. But the first step always starts with reaching out. Chatting up someone cool at yoga class? See if they want to get tea later. Connections don’t appear out of thin air. They’re made! And then think bigger. Block parties. Office parties. Pot lucks. Find a reason to celebrate. Any reason will do. Being a part of a gathering helps us feel like part of something even bigger!
Set boundaries: Last but not least. Don’t over do it with the giving and the connecting. Here’s the thing. In order for your yes to mean something, you’ve got to have a clear and powerful no. Did that friend of yours just ask for another favor? Are you too tired to go out tonight? Saying yes when you want to say no just creates bitterness. It burns you out. And it keeps you unavailable for things you really want. So if you think about it, saying no is good for your relationships. Who knew!