Relationships are hard.
But even though dealing with other people means dealing with conflict, we can overcome this, much like Oliver Goldsmith writes in The Vicar of Wakefield (also available on Audible):
Offences are easily pardoned when there is love at bottom.
For more inspiration, here are some of my favourite Seth Godin quotes from his 2024 blog posts, together with a recommended title from Blinkist.
Being surrounded by a community that sees and tells the truth, that establishes a standard for keeping promises and that applauds long-term generative thinking is a resilient way forward. Connection helps us find traction, and forward motion toward better. ~ The seduction of false promises
Learn more: The Joy of Connections
Each of us builds culture every time we interact with anyone else. Opting out isn’t possible, all we can do is decide what sort of impact and contribution we’re each going to make. ~ Them or us?
Learn more: How to Win Friends and Influence People
Empathy is really difficult. It’s generally worth it. Because empathy is the key to connection, trust and community. ~ Empathy at a distance
Learn more: The Genius of Empathy
Every interaction leads to the next interaction. But the first one starts the whole thing. And that one can be up to us. ~ The interaction cascade
Learn more: Exactly What to Say
Generosity is a great antidote to fear. ~ Kinds of courage
Learn more: Infectious Generosity
Giving someone the benefit of that doubt enables us to move forward, and that requires us to realize that our doubt might be unfounded. ~ Assume goodwill
Learn more: How Trust Works
If we state something as a fact, we’re asking for an argument. ~ It seems
Learn more: How Language Works
If we’re going to come together and invest the time in conversation, in research or in analysis, we should begin by understanding what would be required for you or I to change our minds. ~ But what if I’m wrong?
Learn more: How to Have Impossible Conversations
It’s surprisingly easy to be generous and find solutions to our friend’s problems. Much easier than it is to do it for ourselves. ~ Other people’s problems
Learn more: Codependent No More
Just about everything is out of our control. We can work to influence it, we can practice accepting it, but any time we’re engaging with others or with the future, we’re not completely in charge. ~ Out of control
Learn more: Set Boundaries, Find Peace
Long after people forget the details, they’ll remember your kindness. ~ Graceful
Learn more: The Mastery of Love
Once you burn some trust, it’s almost impossible to earn it back. ~ Trading trust
Learn more: Who Can You Trust?
People often don’t want their arguments to be heard as much as they’re hoping their emotions will be. ~ Language conceals and reveals
Learn more: How You Say It
“Sorry” doesn’t have to be an admission of guilt or acceptance of fault. It could simply be the kind way one human acknowledges to another human that things aren’t ideal right now. ~ Modern apologies
Learn more: The Book of Forgiving
The moments when it’s the most difficult to be kind are the moments where it matters the most. ~ The unwarranted smile
Learn more: Habits of a Peacemaker
The opportunity for an apology is just that–an opportunity to demonstrate to the person you care about that you see them, understand them, and are concerned enough to extend yourself. ~ The half apology
Learn more: Listen Like You Mean It
The problem with holding a grudge is that it makes your hands too full to do anything useful. ~ The Mississippi River paradox
Learn more: Forgive
When we belong to a group that sees us, respects and is counting on us, the best sort of peer pressure arises. ~ PW 2: Productivity in community
Learn more: Never Eat Alone
When we offer to help someone get to where they were going, we’re approaching the relationship with generosity, not selfishness. ~ The generous ask
Learn more: All You Have to Do Is Ask
When you’re imagining what went wrong in that conversation yesterday, you are living in yesterday. And when you’re scripting the next conversation you’re going to have, you’re in tomorrow. ~ Where are you?
Learn more: The Overthinking in Relationships Fix
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