Choosing Relationships Like Ingredients: A Recipe for Connection

When you walk into a kitchen full of ingredients, it’s tempting to grab a little bit of everything. But the truth is, not every spice, vegetable, or flavor fits in the same dish. A handful of sugar might make a dessert delicious, but it would ruin a savory soup. A pinch of chili can add excitement to some meals, but overwhelm others.

Relationships are exactly the same.

The people who come into our lives all carry their own traits, energies, and values. Some bring warmth and comfort, others spark creativity and excitement, and some may simply not blend well with who we are at this stage of life.

If we don’t pause to reflect, we may find ourselves mixing relationships at random; letting everyone in without asking whether they truly belong in our “dish.” And just like a recipe gone wrong, this can leave us feeling confused, drained, or unsatisfied.

Instead, what if we approached relationships like we approach cooking?

With care, awareness, and intention.

Before adding someone into your life, ask yourself:

• What qualities do they bring?

• What type of relationship would suit them best in my life: close friend, trusted partner, kind acquaintance, or a respectful distance?

• How comfortable do I feel when I’m around them?

  
  

The pause is important.

Just as you wouldn’t throw every ingredient into a pot and hope it works, You don’t need to let every person take a central role in your life.

Some people are meant to be the main dish in your story. Others are side flavors that add richness in small doses. And some may simply not belong in your kitchen at all.

And that’s okay…

Just as a skilled cook chooses ingredients with care, you have the power to choose the relationships that shape your life.

It doesn’t mean rejecting people harshly.

It means being honest about what fits, what nourishes, and what truly belongs in your recipe.

When you choose with clarity, you create a life that feels authentic, balanced, and deeply fulfilling.

So the next time you meet someone new, or reflect on someone already in your life, pause for a moment and ask yourself:

Do they belong in my recipe?

THINK ABOUT IT…