Understand Relationship

In Love and Survival, Dean Ornish, M.D. describes why it is important to understand relationship and its link to human survival – and indirectly the link between human relationship, business success and making money your way. He quotes Dr. James House, a professor of sociology at the University of Michigan, among many others: “'I think there is,' says House, 'a variety of evidence for humans, and across a range of species, that says we are basically organisms that need relationships with other people in order to grow, develop, maintain and sustain ourselves in a variety of ways. You can either explain this spiritually or in an evolutionary way, if you want. We need these relationships, in a whole range of ways, some of which are more tangible than others."

Ornish also quotes Harvey Zarren, M.D., a board-certified cardiologist and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine, about another aspect of relationship “'I think,' says Zarren, that 'human beings are looking for love and connection. We are intrinsically social organisms, and I think we are living in a culture that does not understand wellness in any sense of the word, a culture that only understands money. What happens is that people starve; it’s an impoverishment of self. . . . it’s an absolute necessity for people to be connected and to be cared for and to be cared about.'”

Ornish himself underscores the key principle at work here: “Anything that promotes feelings of love and intimacy is healing; anything that promotes isolation, separation, loneliness, loss, hostility, anger, cynicism, depression, alienation, and related feelings often leads to suffering."

Chances are that you will be able to find a copy of Love and Survival for free at your local library. It's also available through Amazon.com.

When we understand relationship, we're more ready to understand why and how to learn emotional intelligence.