Although every girl knows what relationships are, it can still be difficult to understand the different types of relationships.
For instance, if your tyrant boss forbids “personal relationships” in the workplace, does that just mean that you can’t make out with the hot babe in the accounting department, or does the policy also mean that you can’t enjoy after-work martinis with a group of female coworkers?
Of course, any girl would immediately define her relationship with her long-term partner as being personal but still may question whether close non-sexual relationships would qualify as a personal relationship.
Let’s resolve the confusion about what constitutes a personal relationship once and for all.
The term personal relationship most often refers to an ongoing intimate relationship, such as that with your boyfriend, spouse, or partner, but it can also include any close relationship in which a bond has been formed.
For example, if you’re tight with your mom or BFF and share everything with them, that could also be defined as a personal relationship.
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Types of personal relationships
While some people categorize personal relationships by the strength of their bond, given the fact that personal relationships aren’t necessarily sexual in nature, it’s best to classify them into three groups: romantic, platonic, and spiritual.
Romantic relationships
Sure, this one is a given, but if you are married or exclusively dating your partner, this qualifies as a personal relationship.
However, that one-night stand that you met at the bar last week or that cute guy that you’ve only been on two dates with isn’t necessarily a personal relationship, as a bond hasn’t yet been formed.
Just because a relationship is sexual doesn’t always mean that it’s personal.
Some people may debate this, so if personal relationships are prohibited at work, it’s not a wise move to hook up with a coworker. After all, you never know where it may lead.
Platonic relationships
No, going out for drinks with a group of coworkers or casually hitting the club with a group of friends doesn’t mean that you have a personal relationship with them.
However, friendships can become personal relationships once a bond has developed; intimacy and sex are two different things.
If you share every detail of your life with your BFF for years and cry on their shoulder after every break-up, that’s an intimate and personal relationship.
Many girls are closer to their BFFs than they are to their partners.
When it comes to family members, most often it’s a familial relationship, rather than a personal one, but if you are super-close to one of your parents or a sibling is your BFF, this could be considered a personal relationship.
Spiritual relationships
Since there are recovery groups out there for almost every issue from binge-eating to drinking to codependency, it’s worth it to include spiritual relationships.
Many people claim to have developed a personal relationship with a God of their understanding, but the nature of this type of personal relationship is purely individual.
What’s the difference between a working relationship and a personal relationship?
If you are trying to draw the line between your personal and professional life, then knowing the difference between these two types of relationships is important.
While older women usually figure this one out after several years in the workforce, recent college graduates often have some difficulty distinguishing between the two.
The difference between working and personal relationships depends on the environment in which the relationship was cultivated.
While you may have met your BFF at work or landed a position at a company where a relative is employed, you should still maintain an air of professionalism on the job.
Although working and personal relationships can occasionally overlap, it’s still important to keep your life at work separate from your life at home as much as possible.
When you are at work, your focus should be placed on the job instead of on your personal life.
Why are personal relationships important?
Women can do anything a man can do (with some obvious exceptions, of course), which leads many girls to pursue their careers and personal interests with little thought to building personal relationships.
However, personal relationships are still important, even if they are cultivated through friends and family rather than domestic partnerships.
Personal relationships are essential for your mental health. People naturally crave relationships with others for support and companionship.
Close relationships can improve your mood and give you the opportunity to vent and clear your mind.
When you are experiencing difficult times, it helps to have someone who you trust that you can talk to.
Regardless of whether it’s a romantic dinner with your long-term partner or pedicures with your BFF, personal relationships have a way of making things feel a little better.
How to develop effective personal relationships
Some girls always seem to fall for the bad boys or tend to be backstabbed by their so-called best friends.
Even familial relationships can be too complicated to develop into personal relationships, and some people just aren’t spiritual and so don’t seek that type of connection in their lives.
The hard truth is that it isn’t always easy to develop long-lasting personal relationships.
It takes acceptance, trust, communication, time, and empathy to develop meaningful personal relationships.
Many relationships fall apart if they are lacking in one of these areas, but if you put the time and work into your relationships, it’s possible to make them last long-term.
Acceptance
Everyone has their flaws, and to have long-lasting personal relationships, you need to accept those imperfections.
Many girls are on a mission to find Mr. Right and hold the people they date to impossibly high standards, which is sure to lead to a lot of failed relationships.
I mean, SpongeBob boxers shouldn’t be a deal-breaker!
Trust
You may have heard that relationships are built on trust, and that’s true.
Even if you’ve been burnt before, you need to take a chance and give potential partners and friends the benefit of the doubt.
Additionally, complete trust is built over time, so be patient with yourself and your partner.
Trust is also a two-way street, so you need to be a trustworthy person yourself to have meaningful personal relationships.
Communication
Many problems in life can be avoided by effective communication.
If you are annoyed with your partner’s tendency to leave dishes in the sink and clothes on the floor, don’t let your anger fester.
Speak up and say something about it in an assertive manner. Don’t be afraid to sit down and talk about how you feel with the people that you care about.
Time
If you want your personal relationships to last, then you need to make time for your loved ones.
Yes, this does mean that you should put your cell phone down at the dinner table and communicate with that special someone sitting in front of you.
It also means scheduling date nights with your partner or brunch with your BFF.
Empathy
Sure, that guy that just dumped your BFF was a pig, and the job that your partner lost barely paid the bills, but you still need to be empathetic and supportive regarding what your loved ones are going through.
Although this is the “me generation,” nobody wants to be in a personal relationship with someone who is a self-centered cold fish.
So, pull out the box of Kleenex and give that person a hug…even if you are secretly rolling your eyes.
Final thoughts
The term “personal relationship” includes any relationship that involves closeness, bonding, and intimacy.
Personal relationships are an important part of having a fulfilling and meaningful life, and they can be developed if you are willing to put in the time and work.
