Ways to keep a positive outlook even during seasons of issolation: Love and be loved. Compassion, understanding, and love for others begin with self-compassion. This positive energy will be naturally extended to others and garner social support. Ensure that the relationship you have with yourself is a positive one. Work on recognizing your strengths and uniqueness and forgive yourself for your weaknesses, faults, and mistakes. Be kind and receive kindness. Simple acts of kindness can go a long way in developing good relationships. This may include saying “Good morning”, say “I love you” to someone you love, give away something you don’t need, stop for a pedestrian crossing the road, let drivers merge, bringing a treat to work, compliment someone on their clothing, send flower, write a kind letter, smile, and many others. Express gratitude. Be polite, courteous and appreciative when someone assists you in anyway. Trust and be trusted. The foundation of relationships is based on trusting that the relationship will not be hurtful. Without trust, most relationships wither and die. Trust is based on both self-honesty, honesty with others, and caring about the other person to not be purposeful hurtful. Have time for others. In turn they will have time for you. In our over-scheduled lives, the gift of time with people we care about is precious. Spend face-to-face time with the people you enjoy whether it is in person or on-line. Choose friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members who are upbeat, positive, and interested in you and spend time with them. Go for a walk, meet for coffee, and visit a museum together. Be present in the time you give to people. Communicate and be understood. Communication occurs when someone understands you, not just when you speak. We assume that another person understands the message we are trying to get across but this is not always the case. Poor communication and being misunderstood can lead to a culture of conflict, blame, confusion, and stress. When having a conversation, listen and be heard and ask if the listener understands. Listen and be heard. A key to developing supportive relationships is to be a good listener who listens without a pre-existing agenda. A good listener listens to the feelings behind the words and does not interrupt, judge, or criticize. Active or reflective listening is the single most useful and important listening skill. Active listening suggests that we are genuinely interested in understanding what the other person is saying, thinking, feeling, wanting, and the message behind it. Respond with our own new message by restating or paraphrasing an understanding of the message for verification. Keep comfortable eye contact (where culturally appropriate), let the other person speak without interruption, keep an open, non-defensive relaxed posture, avoid distracting gestures, such as fidgeting with a pen, glancing at papers, tapping feet or fingers. Mutes phones and other communication devices to ensure that we are sincerely interested. Give and take feedback. Feedback is the fuel for progress and it usually good for us in the long term. It can help us to tap into our personal potential and develop mutually beneficial honest relationships. Feedback is free information that we can choose pay attention to, react to or ignore. It can help us see a blind spot and get a different perspective. Learn to give and receive positive and negative feedback. But, the ability to provide constructive feedback to others is an art form. In providing feedback, be gentle not brutal. Truth can be presented in a positive or negative manner. Be helpful and be helped. When we do something that helps others, this will also have a beneficial effect on how you feel about yourself. The meaning and purpose in helping others can provide positive energy and expand your own life. There is no limit to the opportunities available to help in schools, churches, nonprofits, charitable organizations, and with families and friends. Respect uniqueness and be unique. Everyone is unique. When we build relationships, there often is a desire or expectation that people will think like we do and, if so, it seems easier to create a rapport. We feel more comfortable when we feel that people understand us and can see our point of view. If we were all the same, life would be dull. While we may find it initially easier, the novelty of sameness soon wears off. Allow people to be different and appreciate their differences. Accept and celebrate our uniqueness. Learn to show and receive empathy. People may forget what you said, and forget what you did, but will never forget how you made them feel. Empathy and understanding of another person’s feelings will build the relationship. Empathy is the state of perceiving and relating to another person’s feelings and needs without blaming, giving advice, or trying to fix the situation unless they ask. Empathy also means “reading” another person’s inner state and interpreting it in a way that will help the other person and offer support and develop mutual trust. Recognize and respect comfort zones. Everyone has comfort zones that when encroached, can disrupt a relationship. Be aware of how close people stand next to you and how comfortable they are with physical contact. this is all the more important during a social distancing mandate.Look at the person who is talking for sincere eyes, facial expressions, and smiles. Study body positions to pick up on postures, gestures, and cues that suggest a person is comfortable or not. When person sits or stands comfortably with open arms, welcoming gestures and good eye contact, they are happy to be with you. Recognize and respect personal boundaries. Everyone has boundaries such as how much of a person’s personal life they reveal or mistakes they have made. Boundaries need to be respected and not pushed until a person is ready. This often depends on the trust level already established in the relationship. Deal with conflicts. Most conflicts with other people are a normal part of everyday life. Conflicts can offer an opportunity to not only learn about yourself and others, but when resolved, can enhance the relationship. Resolving conflict in a win-win situation is best for all parties in the conflict. Listen to the other person and confirm your understanding of the issue. Express your feelings about the situation and offer positive ways to move forward. If you cannot resolve the conflict on your own, ask a friend, family member, or colleague to help with it. If the conflict is simply a difference of opinion, accept it and move on. However, if the conflict involves verbal, physical, or sexual abuse, you need seek care with appropriate professional help. Nurture close relationships. When building positive relationships, it is important to act in a respectful manner. Be respectful to your co-workers by listening to their positions and responding in a professional manner. Respect yourself by staying in control of your emotions and using your best judgment when working towards conflict resolution with co-workers. For example: If you are having a disagreement with a co-worker, take a few deep breaths before responding or agree to discuss the issue at a later time so that you can walk away from the situation and come up with an appropriate, professional response.