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There is one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one’s life -reciprocity. –Confucius
Reciprocity of effort means that equivalent energy is being put forth to initiate and maintain a relationship. This does not mean the receiving party must reciprocate immediately or in kind – just that overall, over time, a healthy relationship is based on giving and receiving and the relationship is balanced. An unevenness in reciprocity indicates there is an imbalance of power. If we find ourselves in a situation with repeated unreciprocated patterns of interacting, we can become resentful, hurt, angry and depressed. This can lead to underlying physical and mental health issues and/or the failure of the relationship. Reciprocity matters!