How to Have a Better Relationship with Yourself and With Others

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of juxtapose means to place (different things) side by side (as to compare them or contrast them or to create an interesting effect) Interesting is a mild word to describe the work of Jacob Jonas The Company. I would use engaging and fascinating, for examples. Juxtapose is the title of their recent work that I got to experience thanks to The Wallis and ROW DTLA.  This is the second time I’ve seen this company perform, the first time was at The Wallis back in 2019. I would’ve happily seen them at The Wallis again but this was an outdoor performance on the rooftop of ROW DTLA and I am so thankful I got to experience a new venue. This performance inspired the following ten tips on our relationship with ourselves and with others as I was watching the intriguing interactions between the dancers:

1. Ask yourself if you are asleep or awake? Most people are asleep with their eyes open going through the motions, sometimes alone and sometimes together. Do you need a wake up call in some area of your life?
2. Stop worrying excessively about what people might think of you. Most are so entrenched in their own affairs that they aren’t even thinking of you.
3. Focus on what you can appreciate. I appreciate the athletic artistry of this company, knowing I will be engaged. I would’ve cut the beginning part shorter, and not put so much repetition in some of the sections. My personal trigger was my experience with contact improvisation. It was very prominent between the performers and it took me back to my first class years ago and trying to be intuitive and then someone telling me I wasn’t really doing it properly.  I appreciate this movement form and the performers executed well--it was just my own personal bias toward my experience that caught me off guard.
4. Ask yourself how best to respond to someone else. The example of the stage flooring when the dancers landing throughout the choreography was loud and abrupt. How do you want the interactions in your relationships to land?
5. Pay attention to relationship dynamics. Sometimes you are supporting, provoking,  or inspiring. Just as each duo was interacting with one another, there was a constant give and take, push and pull.
6. Are you getting caught up in what the majority is doing? Are you going to extremes when it isn’t necessary? It is easy to get caught up in what the majority is doing, and that can be both “bad” and beautiful. There is power in one and there is power in many. You decide how you want to disperse your energy and efforts in relationships. 
7. Sometimes you have to release to get more strength and sometimes you have to stand your ground.
8. Know that even when you feel alone, you aren’t. There are others around you that can help or inspire you. You have to allow space for it.
9. When you need space for yourself, acknowledge that. And let others know that you do.
10. Remember that the most important is first the relationship and trust within yourself and that affects how