Happiness From Relationships

We all know that money doesn't buy happiness, though deep down, many people seem to have a hard time believing it.  The truth is, wealth has far less to do with happiness than does the quality of your relationships.

Unless you are a hermit on a mountaintop, most of your life happens within the context of your personal, professional, and family relationships.  This is true for introverts as well as for extroverts (I say this as an introvert!)  While these various relationships can be very different, the skills involved in keeping these relationships satisfying are often the same or similar for different types of relationships.

The parent-child relationship is in some ways like any other relationship, and at the same time it is unique.  Parents are responsible for their children, and parents are supposed to be in charge of their children.  But unlike most hierarchical relationships, the parent-child relationship is close, intimate, and loving.  Many people are uncomfortable with this dichotomy and try to keep these aspects separate.  Most people who contact a parenting coach want help with the hierarchical aspects of parenting.  "How do I get my child to do what I say?"  But the relationship is at the root of all parenting matters.  A good relationship with your children can be the most effective discipline tool.  And, ultimately a good relationship is more likely to lead to happiness in being a parent than all the discipline techniques in the world.