Enhance your relationships

Diogenes the Cynic was a Greek philosopher who was known for carrying a lit lantern through the city of Athens during the day. When people asked why he was doing this, he claimed to be “looking for an honest man.” He was constantly disappointed to find only the unprincipled and dishonorable. Born in 412 BCE in Sinope, a Greek colony in modern day Turkey being disputed between pro-Persian and pro-Greek factions in the 4th century, he was a philosopher who believed that virtue was better revealed in action than in theory.

Today in our modern world, the new millennium is filled with people walking in the streets of New York, London, Paris, Moscow, all great metropolises with skyscrapers touching the sky. We are all carrying our lanterns, searching for others who could become honest and sincere friends.

The question is, how can we enhance our relationships? It is everyone’s responsibility to become part of the solution and not the problem. We must know ourselves, discover our potentiality and share our positive particularities to actively raise our relationships to a higher degree. All of us need to be honest individuals and real friends, in whom others can trust and count. It is our duty to become lanterns, beautifying this world and enhancing our friendships.

One day, our friend Diogenes was resting in the sunlight and Alexander the Great approached him offering to do any favor he requested. Diogenes replied, “Yes, move out of my sunlight. You should not take from me what you cannot give.”

And there they enacted a paradigm of life. To enhance relationships, we must learn to serve each other in a framework of harmony and cooperation, working for the wellbeing of each other.

Alexander the Great commented, “If I were not Alexander, then I would want to be Diogenes.” Diogenes replied, “If I were not Diogenes, then I would also want to be Diogenes.” The power of contentment with who we are hinges on knowing ourselves, appreciating the real value of our being. You and only you can fulfill the completeness of the universe. You were born with a special purpose, and recognizing and accepting that purpose brings harmony to your relationships. It builds a better world. Be happy for who you are, for your talents, the color of your eyes, skin and formidable ideas. Look at the sun as it shines and in its place the moon that governs at night. You are the only one who can bring balance to your circle of friends when you are a gear that understands its purpose in moving the machinery of our world.

We have two choices: To be lanterns full of positive enhancements, fighting against the mediocrity of the world and poor relationships; or to reject our own purpose and talents, hiding from our potential inner balance.

10 Commandments to Enhance Relationships

1.) Give yourselves to others; find similarities and common ground instead of focusing on irreconcilable divisions

2.) Practice generosity and confidentiality

3.) Protect and defend your friendships; cry and laugh together, celebrate success

4.) Leave your ego at the door

5.) Be open to other opinions

6.) Revive your romance unconditionally with dedication, honor and respect

7.) Ask good, respectful, enlightening questions and breathe deeply and peacefully when a situation arises

8.) Listen attentively and be empathetic

9.) Admit if you are wrong

10.) Forgive and be compassionate

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