Keep Your Emotional Bank Account Full

Stephen Covey, in his very popular book Seven Habits Of Highly Successful People, speaks of an “emotional bank account.” It’s like a real bank account but for our relationships. When we’re kind, keep our promises, and show gratitude, when we say “please” and “thank you,” we are making deposits into our emotional bank account, boosting our connection with others and building trust and goodwill.

But, there are times we slip up. Running late, being thoughtless, or forgetting things – these are withdrawals from our emotional account. Each time this happens, our connection weakens. Others may start seeing us in a less positive light.

That’s why it’s essential to keep depositing into our emotional bank accounts as much as possible. When the withdrawals do happen, and they will, we have plenty of “emotional currency” in our account to keep us from overdrawing.

When we prioritize nurturing strong relationships, we create a support system for ourselves in the form of a healthy emotional bank balance. This acts as a buffer that allows others to forgive us and look beyond when we make mistakes.