Is your Emotional Bank Account in the black or in the red? Do you have a savings in your EMB or are you working with an overdraft? What is an Emotional Bank account? The EMB involves your trust investment in relationships with others. You make deposits into the accounts of others by acts of kindness, being honesty, and keeping the promises that you make. When you have a relationship of this kind and continue to behave with this kind of integrity you build a reserve. So that when you make a mistake, you can call upon that level of trust to compensate for the mistake. Communication may not always be clear, however, if the reserve of trust is high, you can say a wrong word or make a mistake and the level will remain steady. You cannot however, continue to draw on the account and not make deposits. It is in the best interest of your relationships to maintain a high level of trust.
However, when you are disrespectful, cutting people off in conversation, overreacting to situations, and you betray trust, it is than that your EMB will have an overdraft. When there is a communication breakdown, you have no place to go except further into the ‘Hole’. This is when your social dimension, in your Interpersonal Wellness, may be poorer than excellent.
Responsible communication is an important part of being personally well in your social dimension. Relationships can either be built up or broken down, depending on how you choose to build the level of trust in your Emotional Bank Account (EMB).
To sustain a large reserve of trust takes continuing deposits. Family relationships are in jeopardy when the EMB goes into a deficient. In an overdraft, it becomes more and more difficult to communicate. When an important discussion needs to happen, there can be no responsible communication. Now what? What is the response? More withdrawal or will you have the wisdom and knowledge to work at building the EMB. Maybe you can do an act of kindness, or ask what project they are doing and listen to seek to understand what they are working on. There may be suspicion at first, however, if you continue to be genuine in the deposits, the overdraft will shrink. Remember, however, that a quick fix it is an illusion. When you are working at rebuilding and repairing broken relationships, you are working at a long-term investment.
Are you wondering how to build equity in your EMB? Here is a thought. Make deposits by attending to the little things, keeping promises, being clear on your expectation, showing your personal integrity, seeking to understand, and finally apologizing with sincerity when you make a withdrawal. Have a beautiful and blessed day.
Comments