Ever find yourself wishing relational skills would just show up when you need them most—especially on the tough days?
If we were honest, I think many of us wish we could possess strong relational skills without putting in the effort to develop them. Just imagine if simply knowing about a skill and recognizing its value were enough to master it! Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Awareness alone doesn’t translate into ability.
Chris Coursey often reminds us that we build relational skills on the good days so they’re available on the hard ones. On the flip side, without consistent practice in the everyday moments, these skills won’t be strong enough to surface when life gets tough.
Let me give you an example. For much of my life, despite being an overall joyful person, whenever I experienced emotions like shame or anger, I would often turn into a different person. At times, I became loud and abrasive; other times, I withdrew, unable to be relationally present for days. The problem was I hadn’t developed the essential skills I needed—like Returning to Joy and Acting Like Myself—to feel those emotions while still showing up as my authentic, kind self.
Can you relate? Or maybe you struggle with other skills, like calming yourself when life gets busy or appreciating God’s gifts in difficult seasons. I’ve struggled with all of these, but there is good news!
Practice may not seem glamorous, but it can change your life!
Accessing relational skills in hard circumstances isn’t easy and doesn’t come naturally to most of us. However, when we make practice a regular part of our lives, they eventually become second nature—ready to support us in peaceful times AND in the midst of stress and adversity.
Over the past several years, I’ve committed to practicing relational skills that help me navigate my emotions. As a result, I can now stay anchored in who God created me to be, even when facing difficult feelings. My journey isn’t over—I’ll always be growing—but I celebrate how God has used these skills to shape me into someone who is emotionally grounded. This is the beautiful fruit of consistent practice!
What about you?
Do you desire to become a more consistent, authentic version of yourself? If you’d like to grow in an area, you don’t have to figure the way forward on your own – we’re here to help!
NOURISH A NEW HABIT: Schedule as little as 5 minutes a few times a week to go through part of a relational skill exercise, or do more as time allows. Get started with suggestions below or email us if you need additional assistance.
When can you set aside time each day to practice skills that will help you grow?
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Practice options:
- Increase your joy, peace, and overall emotional and relational capacity by practicing exercises from any of these resources:
- Increase your ability to navigate emotions by practicing:
- Exercises from our Return to Joy Habit Builder Courses
- Looking for free resources?