Women’s Services and Resources hosted a relationship conference that focused on developing six key relationships.
When Women’s Services Resources Manager Tiffany Turley heard that they were scheduled to have a dating conference in February, she knew she wanted to do more than just talk about dating.
“Instead of only focusing on dating we decided to take a more holistic approach to relationships,” Turley said.
This holistic approach meant focusing on six key relationships, including relationship with self and with the Lord; marriage, dating and parent-child relationships; and relationships with roommates and friends.
“I think people see the word ‘relationship,’ and they think it doesn’t apply to them,” Turley said. “We are all in relationships, so that is where this holistic idea came from.”
One of the workshops focused on the relationship with self. It was led by Malissa Richardson, a senior studying family life and nonprofit management, who is currently serving as Miss Provo. Richardson spoke of self-esteem and the importance of personal victories.
“Don’t compare yourself,” Richardson said. “It is all about being your best — What is good for you? What is a personal victory for you?”
Richardson said a personal victory can be very small, and it is usually an accomplishment one makes. Personal victories can range from smiling at someone to getting homework done and turned in on time, Richardson said. But a personal victory does not mean that a person is necessarily the best at something.
“You can accomplish amazing things without being the best,” Richardson said. “It will be your personal victory.”
Richardson asked questions to encourage conference attendees to participate. JoyLynn Bronson, a mother of six and a BYU alumna, shared her experience with beauty and talked about comparison.
“Beauty is a very personal thing. It can not be pinned or put on a scale; it comes from within,” Bronson said.
Richardson challenged those who attended the conference to keep a personal victory journal and write down the things they accomplish on a day-to-day basis. She spoke about the human condition and the need to be perfect.
“There are so many perfectionist personalities at BYU,” Richardson said. “But stop punishing yourself; it is OK that you are not perfect.”
At the end of the workshop Richardson reminded the audience that gaining self-esteem was a process and a continuous battle.
“It is a human condition to have low self-esteem. It is something that we are always going to be working on,” Richardson said. “Being human is real, and it is OK.”
