So why Enterpersonal?
It began as a thought disguised as a question: “What is the most precious thing in this world?”
God.
Children.
Family.
Spouse.
Friends.
When I ask this question, these are mainly the answers I’ve come across, without fail. And what do all of these things have in common? You guessed it; it revolves around relationships.
I’ve had the honor to work with families and communities for the last 15 years and the most consistent causes of stress are…also relationships. This was across race, socioeconomic status and religion. It all boiled down to relationships.
Over the last 10 years, there has been such a huge (and necessary) emphasis on various aspects of health. Mental Health. There have been so many breakthroughs in the psychiatric field that have helped so many people. Though my emphasis is more on behaviors and what motivates them, the field as a whole has undergone some serious changes over the last 50 years. Physical Health. In 2018, the physical health business is alive and quite well. Everywhere you turn, the signs of the health-conscious are there. People are obsessed about being good to their temples, and I’m all for it.
Spiritual Health.
This has always been a major concern as existential questions are explored and re-examined. As a Christian, I’m constantly searching on how to feed my spirituality and be an example to others. And I know others, of various faiths and religions on similar paths. But what I’ve noticed is that there is very little focus on interpersonal health. The irony is both sad and startling—this thing that people claim is most precious to them is spoken so little about. I wanted to create a space to share, in hopes of not just educating on but elevating one’s interpersonal health.
Then another thought occurred to me. You can’t focus on interpersonal health without also dealing with intrapersonal health. Interpersonal health deals with how we relate with others. Intrapersonal health deals with how we relate to ourselves. As we understand ourselves better, the better we can begin to understand the world around us.
So, now you know about us, friends. And you are welcome to Enterpersonal!
Travis Bryant, Jr.
Editor