Hidden Purpose of Relationships 🦋

Many people talk about the transformational necessity of relationships —especially parenting— but I got it in some deeper way that’s been opening me to more gratitude.

Relationships, we often believe, have their unique purposes: Parenting to raise children, marriage for companionship, work to fulfill an organization's mission, like earning money. What if there’s a common thread? Where relationships have always been crucibles transforming each of us into the version of ourselves we’re meant to be? The classroom for our next karmic lesson? From this view, we choose our relationships while they choose us.

The crucible's intensity varies—some relationships allow easier exits, demand fewer changes. Higher commitment is less about binding two people together and more a method of ensuring partners stay engaged through the pain and resistance to undergo the required character metamorphosis. Beyond the joys and challenges of marriage, or raising a child, lies the relentless evolution of the partners and parents.

The way I see it, we can’t truly fail to embrace this ever-evolvement; but we can suffer by resisting. Perhaps there’s not an inherent direction to goodness; relationships demand change from us but we could break bad. Then embrace—and our conscious participation—is even more relevant.

With love, Jordan