But this is only one example of how a positive relationship between a parent and child helps to mould ones future. A further example is in single parent families where the parent-child relationship may be spoiled or severed to non-existence. In this situation it is the lack of a relationship which has a marked repercussion on the child. When a child lacks the presence and upbringing from either parent, they miss out on an important role-modelling that cannot be replace by love, money or attention, even from the remaining parent. Because of this scar within one's childhood, the journey of self discovery also feels the consequences. The essence of life is the journey of self discovery so when a portion of our lives- in this case by the lack of role-modelling during childhood- is damaged, so is our journey to self discovery. However, the journey is never lost completely so long as one is willing to reform it. Rather than letting ones past destroy ones future or impair it from reaching its full potential, it is important that one instead tries to learn from the mistakes of their parents and find role-modelling and inspiration from a mentor, a religious leader or the great motivational people of our past.
Our friends plays significant part in this journey of self discovery. While we chose our friends and often befriend them for their similarities to our current selves, they unlock a whole world within ourselves that would otherwise be left undiscovered within us. While it is our parents that make the biggest impact to our emotional and intellectual development during childhood, it is often one's friends whose influence makes the most significant impression during ones teenage years. Adolescence is one of the most important and predominant times in our journey to the discovery of oneself as it is a time of changing and challenging values, an introduction to a world of experience one never knew in childhood and one's first questioning of the morals and beliefs one grew up with in their younger years. As the influence of friends and peers outweighs the influence of other people we have relationships with at that stage of our lives, ones relationships with their friends and peers need to remain stable and secure to ensure that ones teenage years are a positive and forward moving step on this journey. Friends and our relationships with our friends is just another piece of the colossal, boundless puzzle of our self discovery journey.
Our relationships with our friends encourage our minds and intellect to grow as new acquaintances broaden our horizons with their differences in experience, morals, views, opinions and interests. When we listen to and make conversation with our friends, we are developing our own concepts and expanding our minds with the viewpoints and experience of others. Therefore our relationships with our friends lead to intellectual growth. Growth is an essential element to our journey of the discovery of oneself. One continues to grow intellectually and mentally throughout the journey of their lives and therefore this adds to the very essence of our lives which is, without doubt, the journey of self discovery.
Relationships with friends also assist ones emotional growth. If one is a true friend towards another, they will learn how to care, share, express emotions and opinions, build relationships and several other valuable lessons that stretch beyond “ textbook” learning and which add to ones “ emotional intelligence”. In return, someone who has made a true friend should experience feelings of warmth within one's heart, an increased aura of self esteem, a person in whom they can confide in and a companion in which they build a trust with. The contribution to the emotional field which is gained by a healthy, deep relationship with a good friend is priceless in values when it comes to the part it plays in our self discovery journey. Many people consider their friends alone to be the essence of their life. The essence of life is the journey of self discovery so it is inevitable that our relationships with true friends will leave metaphorical footprints on our hearts and therefore on our lives as we develop and discover ourselves.
As one enters adulthood, intimate or romantic relationships being to thrive and flourish and consequently take a vital role in the discovery of ones personal and sexual selves. Such relationships develop ones sexual and intimate self which, regardless of connotations behind the words used, plays a significant role within every man and women, hetero or homosexual, promiscuous of virginal. Ones relationships of this classification are so different than our relationships everyone else within our lives and this connection and bond that a mature relationship has plays an influential role in what is the essence of our lives.
