If you zoom out far enough, life is just one big, beautiful story about relationships. Whether it’s in the kitchen after a long day, around the conference table, or during a quiet walk with someone we love—relationships shape how we live and lead. And yet, for something so central to our lives, they’re also one of the most complex, joyful, and challenging things we ever navigate.
So, as we’re wrapping up this podcast season on relationships next week, let’s talk about some of the big takeaways and what we’ve learned.
Three Categories, One Common Thread
We often categorize our relationships: friendships (both at work and in personal life), parent-child bonds, and romantic partnerships or marriages. Each of these carries its rhythms, pain points, and potential. The one common thread?
They all invite us to grow.
Relationships aren’t one-size-fits-all. They live on a continuum of trust and intimacy—and understanding where someone fits on that spectrum can help us manage expectations with wisdom and grace. Not everyone is a “heart friend,” and that’s okay. Some people are meant to sit in the outer rings of your circle. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it means you’re honoring your capacity and your values.
Being Selective Is an Act of Love
One of the most empowering lessons? You don’t have to cut people out of your life—you can simply bump them further out in your circle. Think of your friendships like concentric circles, with your heart in the sacred center. Who has earned the right to be there? Who energizes you, challenges you in the best ways, and honors your values—like loyalty, honesty, curiosity, and respect?
After I got married and had kids, my friendship circle naturally shifted. I had to grieve some of that, to make space for what I was growing into. It’s not about shame or guilt. It’s about clarity. We bless, we release, and we keep growing.
Know Your Season, Then Communicate It
One thing that can trip us up in relationships is mismatched expectations—especially if we haven’t named our season. Maybe you’re in a new job, raising teenagers, caring for a parent, or finally coming up for air after years of survival mode.
Take a moment to notice where you are.
For me, I’ve realized I’m not the friend who talks to you every day. I’m the one who shows up when you call. I’m “low maintenance” in some ways but deeply intentional in others. I love deep conversations over lattes, focused time without distractions, and walks that nourish connections. When I give you my time, I want it to be full-hearted and present.
It’s been freeing to say that out loud. The pressure to keep up melts away when we lead with honesty.
Trust Is Fluid, Not Fixed
Trust isn’t a light switch. It moves. It grows—or erodes—based on our behavior, our consistency, our care.
Your trust level with your spouse, teenager, or colleague may be different, and that’s normal. What matters is noticing what builds trust (deposits) and what chips away at it (withdrawals). We often talk about love languages—and yes, we carry all five in us. But trust? That’s the silent partner to love, and it deserves just as much attention.
Before you ask for feedback or bring something vulnerable to the table, ask yourself: Is the trust level here strong enough to hold it? When the answer is yes, go there. When it’s not, start with building safety first.
Love Over Ego
In the end, loving relationships are built not by perfection, but by presence. By choosing heart over ego. By listening, growing, forgiving, and staying curious. If something matters to the person you love, it matters to you. Period.
Whether you’re navigating the hallway conversations at work, teenage moods in your kitchen, or long-time love in your marriage—remember this: You’re not alone. This is the work of being human. Beautiful, imperfect, holy work.
And it’s worth it.
Cheering you on!
P.S. My book Grace Space is a guide for leaders to grow their soft skills—in business, at home, and in the world. The book is dedicated to my favorite son, Luke, who committed to helping me create spaces of grace when I had never raised a teenage son before. If you’re ready to go deeper, it has a chapter dedicated to Trust vs. Fear. You can purchase the book here or learn more about Grace Space in an email series here.