Relational or Transactional

Peaceful. Happy. In Perfect Harmony. These are words that cause our spirits pause; pause to bask inside the glow of God’s grace, love, and mercy. Jennifer Jones, a marriage and family therapist, defines relational connections as those that are “rooted, reciprocal, and naturally rewarding.” In contrast, she further defines transactional connections as those that are “temporary, self-serving, and taxing on the mind, body, and spirit.” Though both have contextual and circumstantial relevance, one lends itself to longevity and sustainability more than the other. Can you guess which one? Let’s discuss both in deeper detail.

Relational Connections

The consistent presence of a caring adult in the life of a child has transformative and reciprocal outcomes. Both the caring adult and the child benefit in ways that contribute to authentic and meaningful growth. Jones’ inclusion of words like “rooted” and “naturally rewarding” in her definition of relational connections is analogous to what God tells us in Ephesians 3:17. When we walk in love and harmony with one another in a continuous manner, the roots generated by the intertwining of our experiences begin to sow seeds of peace, happiness, and genuine understanding. These seeds then serve as the foundation of the beautiful blossoms that begin to replicate and grow together into long-lasting and sustainable connections that change the landscape upon which life and love are built.

Transactional Connections

The need to enter into a “transaction” with others is a necessary component of human interactions. Researchers describe a transaction as one that “signals a financial agreement between two people where one benefits financially by selling goods and services to another.” The supply and demand notion functions as a catalyst for this type of connection. Exchanging money for basic needs such as food, lodging, and clothing feeds the economic fabric of our society in a contextually appropriate way. However, unlike relational connections, a date of expiration grounds the foundation upon which transactional connections are built. Along the same lines, transactional connections occur after a need has been identified. In contrast, relational connections are best optimized when a relationship exists prior to a need being identified, for when doing so, the return on the investment of relational capital is mutually transformative for all persons involved.

Peaceful. Happy. In Perfect Harmony. These are among the words that Hope Collaborative strives to manifest inside the space of each interaction with others for which we are blessed to engage and while transactional connections may move us from points in life, relational connections move us through points in life.