Joy of LIfe Discussion Group- Every Human Contact is an Opportunity

This week's meeting on “Every Human Contact is an Opportunity” gave us all a really good insight into our human relations and how we can deeply touch the lives of others.

Some of the things that came out from this week's meeting on Human Contact being an opportunity were:

-Every contact we’ve had has shaped our lives to make us what we are today. We are an accumulation of all the good and bad interactions of our lives.

• Sometimes the shortest and seemingly insignificant contact with someone leaves a permanent and life-changing mark on them or on us. 
• A goal for a day, or for every day: to make everyone’s day better in some way. Sometimes just a smile or using their name can be enough. 
• Search your own memories of being really touched by someone during your life, especially in ways that were life-changing for you. 
• How can we connect with others on a deep, emotional level, feeling what they’re feeling and genuinely connecting with those feelings and emotions?
• Physical connection, touching and hugs can all have a huge impact. 
• Are you one of those people who lights up the room?
• How easy it is to touch someone’s soul with good or bad, to make their spirit soar or sink, with just a look, a word, a tone.
• When people are sometimes negative or hostile, we need to think about what’s going on inside of them. Are they feeling insecure or being defensive? Are they hurting inside or having tough times? We should not react to that or get pulled into the negativity. We need to find the softness inside of them, try to understand them, even tell them -”I know your’re a better person than that”- when they’re hostile toward us.
• Many of us never forget rudeness toward us or when we’re diminished in some way. Let’s not leave that mark on others. 
• Look for opportunities to value others by expressing admiration, gratitude and a sincere caring about them, expressed in giving our full attention and real interest in who they are and what they say. 
• Let’s remember that we can always learn something from every other person. Each person’s life is a wonderful, fascinating biography. 
• How much do I really know the people in my life, even those that I am close to? With true empathy and a sincere interest, we can begin to know the real depth of all those shallow acquaintances. 
• Real communication is a lot more that just talking or writing or texting. It’s truly listening, paying attention, understanding and feeling . 
• Every human contact carries with it an endless ripple effect. If I help people to feel better about themselves and spread joy and happiness, those feelings send waves throughout all existence. So the best goal we can have every day, with everyone we connect with is to try to make them feel better about themselves in some small way. 

(C) 8-21-12 Fred Richter