Relationships Must Be Interest-Based

“Relationships must be interest-based, not event-based.”

All relationships, whether intrapersonal, interpersonal-romantic, or interpersonal-nonromantic, must be interest-based; not event-based.  Many, especially in our modern fast-paced societies, elevate the level of their personal-interest in a relationship based on an event that triggered engagement and interaction with others, and not based on mutual-interest.  Relationships that are genuinely based on mutual-interest are naturally triggered, reengaged, or elevated, based on the continuous interest, and not because of social-media-notifications or because of a specific-event run-in. 

For example, if we get invited to a wedding by someone that we have not kept in touch with for years, such interaction is not based on an ongoing mutual-interest that they’ve had with us despite the event; such an interaction is purely based on the personal-interest of the person inviting us to be present at their party, and not because of our mutual-interest.

The primary difference between personal-interest and mutual-interest is that personal-interest is not conditional to reciprocity.

Relationships must be based on mutual-interest, not unilateral neediness or caring.