Harmony Point #18: Relationships

What is the connection between the Game of Life and the Harmony Points?

You seem confused. So, answer this: What is the nature of their relevance to one another?

Aren’t they connected like some giant chain. And, if one link breaks, then the whole thing collapses? I always thought some things could stand on their own.

Indeed, it is a delicate, intricate system. Each Point supports the next, creating a flow of understanding. The strength of each Point affects the overall harmony that humanity ultimately seeks. It is not so much a collapse as a slow unraveling that leads to disharmony.

Huh. So, of all those Points, which is the most important?

Aside for ALL — that would be Relationships.

Why relationships? Aren’t there things that go deeper, like Spiritual Equilibrium? Wasn’t it the epicenter of everything?

Spiritual Equilibrium surely sustains a Garb’s balance in the Game of Life. It is the most potent mechanism, keeping everything from spinning into chaos.

Think of it as a resource allowing one to move through life with grace and purpose. Yet, even the most powerful resource is only a means to an end.

If Spiritual Equilibrium isn’t the end-all-be-all, then what is? Let me think: Like all games, the Game of Life has an objective. For Garbs, happiness. For Souls, Joy.

Good. What you need to understand is that it is through relationships that these goals are achieved. Not merely important, relationships are essential in guiding one toward an ultimate state of fulfillment.

I guess I never really thought of them as being so crucial. I get that people need other people, but I didn’t know it went this deep.

Relationships act as the conduit through which we experience the deeper emotions that propel us toward our goals. They are the catalyst for personal growth, emotional depth, and spiritual clarity.

I get it. Without real relationships, happiness and joy are hard to hold onto and even tougher to keep.

Good. Every Soul needs connection with other Souls. Such interactions are integral to reaching fulfilling its Spiritual Quest.

Okay, but what about Garbs? You saying that without strong connections, people can’t really be happy or find joy? Even if they are spiritually balanced?

Especially if there is Spiritual Balance! Let us be clear: Spiritual Equilibrium provides the reliable foundation for a healthy outlook on TempTerra life.

But it is Relationships that create the structure upon which happiness and joy are built. Within them Garbs discover the essence of who they are, the purpose of their journey.

Good! Now answer the initial question: the connection between the Game of Life and the Harmony Points?

Well, it seems to be that the Harmony Points are a set of factors that influence whether the goals of the Game of Life are achieved, or not. Is that it?

Let us get into Relationships, in depth. Ther are three different types of Relationships, each distinct and deserving thorough consideration. Can you guess what they are? Think logically.

Well, there’s the relationship between Souls. Then, there’s the Garb-Soul relationship, a struggle between the physical and spiritual. And finally, we have the Garb-Garb relationship.

By far the most intricate and multifaceted of them all.

Wait, what about Garb to God? Where does that fit? Never mind! When I think about it, a Soul is kind of like an extension of God? So, then, a Garb-Soul relationship actually is a Garb-God connection?

Okay. Let us take them one at a time. Start with the Soul-Soul relationship, Maggie? What can we say about it?

Every Soul, on its journey toward Spiritual Perfection, chases the same singular objective – to help other Souls in their own Perfection Quests.

Does one say to a fireplace, “If you first give me heat, I then will stack and light the logs”? Of course not. We build the fire with trust, knowing heat will follow.

So, you’re saying — Souls don’t focus on their own perfection? They’re all about helping others?

Exactly. A Soul’s true purpose lies in uplifting others. In doing so, something remarkable happens. As a Soul aids another in their Quest, it too advances on its own spiritual path—without needing to focus on itself.

But, how is that possible? I thought you said that Souls can’t interact directly here.

They cannot – not in TempTerra, anyway. We must work through our Garbs. For me to meet another Soul, my Garb must meet their Garb.

So, that’s where the whole “Eyes are a window to the Soul” thing comes in, right? It’s like how one Soul can recognize another?

Precisely, Maggie. Human eyes are the very windows through which Souls glimpse one another. It is subtle, but that recognition allows them to connect, if only briefly, through the Garbs they inhabit.

In your own experience, have you not noticed that sometimes, staring into a stranger’s eyes, you get this immediate sense about their underlying character? Whether they seem friendly? Sensitive? Or stand-offish? Even a little hostile?

Yeah, I do! That is so cool – that this all makes such common sense. But wait! Are you saying if Garbs isolate themselves, the Souls can’t really do anything?

That is the point.  Souls rely on the social lives of their Garbs. Through these interactions, they indirectly fulfill their missions to uplift other Souls.

That’s… kinda heavy. So, Souls basically have to inspire their Garbs to get out there and interact, or nothing happens?

It is challenging, indeed. We Souls must nudge our Garbs to socialize. Without interaction, our Spiritual Journey is stagnated.

What about Garb-Soul relationships? Didn’t we already touch on that when we discussed Spiritual Equilibrium?

Yes. Particularly under the lens of the Four Tendencies, which shape how a Garb aligns and modulates its Spiritual Equilibrium. Depending on the state of that balance, the Garb may either be receptive to the messages from their Soul—or shut them out entirely. It all depends on their ego.

And the last one? Garb-Garb relationships? I bet that’s where all the real drama happens, huh.

This is the very arena in which the Game is played – a complexity of human relationships. And within these layers lies the true challenge—how Garbs relate to one another. Here, the nuances of conflict and cooperation unfold.

So, tell me more about how Garbs interrelate.

We can begin with the relationship a Garb has with itself.

Itself?

Self-identity often revolves around its past and future. Many Garbs struggle with the weight of their childhoods while also worrying about what lies ahead. These concerns form a psychological blend that shapes their personality and actions.

Yeah, it’s like … we’re constantly haunted by our past or anxious about the future. And that messes with how we see ourselves in the present.

Exactly. But it’s not just mental. It’s also biological—traits passed down through DNA, culture, and family habits. These influences shape much of how Garbs navigate life, often without realizing it.

Families are crazy influential, huh? We inherit more than just eye color from them.

True enough. Family is more than just familiar faces. It is also the very first, and most impactful, group that a Garb is part of. Decisions made by previous generations affect descendants, sometimes in ways that aren’t resolved for generations.

You’re right! In high school, I wrote a term paper. In it, I realized that had my great-grandfather, Sean Gilmer, not chosen to emigrate, I might be Irish today, and – a very different person than I am now, as an American.

Garbs undertake many projects throughout a lifetime. Some are completed, others are abandoned. But some projects are so complicated and extensive, they span generations. Without being asked, their offspring inherit these unfinished endeavors.

Wow, no pressure, right? And families… they’re complicated. All those different personalities clashing, and yet, somehow, you’re supposed to figure it out.

On the plus side, the Family Dynamic, with all its complexities, introduces Garbs to basic social principles like selfishness, selflessness, and perseverance. These early lessons shape how they will approach life.

Yeah, but then you step into the real world and  realize that not everything you learned at home works outside. My friends Brian and Leslie agonized over that.

Those first relationships outside the home reflect what was learned within it. But as Garbs grow, they encounter harsh realities—sometimes learning survival skills in preschool or early institutions, where altruism isn’t always rewarded.

Yeah, and that’s where you start learning about how cruel the world can be, right? It’s not always about being nice. You have to protect yourself.

Indeed, the world teaches very different lessons. It introduces new challenges around the idea of self-preservation.

Altruism, a theory taught in childhood and Sunday School, may not always be rewarded in practice.

Moving on, as Garbs grow into adults, they are introduced to more groups – schools, clubs, employers. Even political and religious institutions. And each group brings with it a unique set of dynamics.

You mean, like herd mentality or crowds acting crazy, right?

For starters, yes. Dynamics of crowd psychology, like Groupthink, are pivotal. Garbs quickly learn groups are comprised of individuals, each with a distinct package of values and beliefs.

The pressing challenge lies in learning how to satisfy the needs of the group without denying the needs of the individual members.

That’s where we start figuring out things like diplomacy and compromise, right?

Garbs learn the delicate arts of negotiation, diplomacy, and compromise. No one gets everything they want.

And not every group member may become a friend, but all can be treated in a friendly manner … with kindness and respect.

Very good. In groups, leadership plays an important role. Sometimes, a Garb enters a group with pre-established leaders—such as teachers or employers.

In other instances, they may get to select their leaders—or even step into leadership roles themselves. Such group interaction gradually molds the Garb’s adult personality.

What about spreading love? I mean, that’s what the Game of Life is really about? Do groups help, or hurt?

The ultimate objective of the Game of Life is to spread love. The Soul’s challenge is to inspire its Garb to engage with others—and to do so with compassion. In groups, this task becomes even more intricate.

How so?

Take, for example, the concept of charity. An individual Garb may feel a strong inclination to be charitable. But as a member of a larger group—such as a nation—they might face opposition from others who do not want tax dollars spent on food stamps and other “handouts.”

Yeah, it’s not always easy to get everyone on the same page. Some people just don’t care as much about helping others.