Evolutionary relationships are relationships that are committed to personal, spiritual and social evolution. The times in which we are living offer a unique blend of challenges and opportunities. Even though we can still easily get caught up in the concerns of survival and getting ahead financially, we are all surrounded by an abundance of opportunities to evolve. In fact, the evolutionary perspective on the multiple crises we face personally and globally are that they are “evolutionary drivers”, circumstances that force us to evolve or regress.After basic survival needs have been met, human beings often exhibit a tendency to evolve and refine themselves. This evolutionary imperative demands that we actualize our highest potential, both as individuals and collectively. Evolutionary relationships are a manifestation of this tendency toward refinement.

Evolutionary relationships is a term we have coined to distinguish relationships that are committed to personal and spiritual evolution, for the individual, the community and our species as a whole. We are talking about conscious evolution for people and the societies they create. People who create evolutionary relationships are focused on having relationships that reflect purposeful action rooted in love. These are people who want to bring out the best in themselves and others. They want to bring forth their wisest and most loving aspects, using that resource for the betterment of the society in which they live.

These are people who have said good-bye to the old ways of using power over others in an abusive way. They no longer indulge in adversarial attitudes or behaviors. They have recognized the interconnectedness among all life and have pledged to honor that by looking for solutions to problems that can work for everyone. They have made a commitment to rise above their own fears and complaints and to focus their creative powers on generating positive action and a positive future.

Clearly, this is no small thing for us mere mortals to do. But can there be a more noble pursuit? How would your life be different if each day you asked yourself, “Who made my choices today, fear or love? Have I acted out of survival or vision?”

The first step in creating evolutionary relationships is committing to your conscious evolution. Then allow the vision of what is truly possible for you and the people you love so stir your soul and fire your imagination that you decide to do whatever you can to achieve that end. Finally, follow that pledge by acquiring the knowledge and skill necessary to fulfill that commitment. In so doing you join the growing ranks of many who make a contribution to the world just by the way they live their own lives and conduct their own relationships.

Some of the questions that we frequently ponder are:

* What are we as human beings evolving into?

* What are the values and practices of a consciously evolving individual?

* What kinds of conversations and activities does a consciously evolving person engage in?

* What are the values and practices of a consciously evolving relationship?

* What are the values and practices of a consciously evolving community?

* What are the values and practices of a consciously evolving society?

We invite you to engage these questions, as well. These are questions to be with and to ponder over time, allowing possible answers to emerge from the deepest part of you. The power of these kinds of questions is largely as a means of looking in a different direction for creative solutions to personal and social problems.
Learn more with Paul and Layne’s Five Keys to Powerful Partnerships. This interactive workshop includes seven audio lessons in MP3 format.

©2002 The Center for Enlightened Partnership 1-866-503-0000
Reprinted from the Enlightened Partnership Monthly E-Zine
Used by permission of the authors.