Each of us is wired for connection. To touch, to share, to give and receive love are attributes woven into our very being. These needs are cultivated in our relationships. From our parents to our spouses to our friendships; each relationship offers a unique bond that supports and nourishes the essence of who we are.

So how do we maintain relationships that help us thrive and reciprocate the love and connection we desperately need to survive our everyday lives?

There are 2 Keys to every successful relationship: Commitment and Forgiveness.

Yup, that’s it.

In order to sustain any relationship, you must be fully committed to doing whatever it takes to make the relationship work and offer up an infinite well of forgiveness for the errors that will arise.

Let’s face it. Our level of commitment is greatly lacking these days. We buy the latest gadgets and trade in practically new vehicles every couple of years, right? We also fast forward through commercials, skip over songs, skim across timelines and rush through our days as if an expectation of commitment to the present moment is just too great a burden to bear.

We give in to every whim and are overtaken by distractions while this endless stream of rapid change flows over into our relationships.

We must take our attention back. We must focus on what matters as we commit to those who matter in our lives.

And when the inevitable occurs – a mistake, an error, an oversight, miscommunication and misunderstanding – we must be willing to pardon the fault and move forward in authentic commitment to a healthy, happy, mutually beneficial relationship.

Yes. Relationships take work. There is give and take, ups and downs, happy times and moments of sadness, yet it is possible to produce and possess joy-filled, priceless relationships that brighten your days and enhance your life.