Relationships are important. You are a product of the people that you surround yourself with. Here are some tips to try to help your current relationships blossom and strengthen. Relationships are key to living a healthy life!
1. Focus on communication. No matter if you’re talking about your relationships with your partner, or a relationship with your friends, it’s important to communicate. All relationships are built upon communication. If you cannot be open and communicate well with those closest to you, what is your relationship based upon?
a. Make sure that you take the time to listen to those around you. Don’t just hear them talk, really listen to the details. Listen to what they’re saying.
b. Take note of body language of those around you. Sometimes your partner or friend may be telling you that they are okay, that they had a great day, but in reality, you can tell that they’re just “off”, that they are sad, that their mannerisms are downtrodden. Make sure that if you notice something is off you lean into your friend or partner and let them know that you’re there for them.
2. Trust! Without trust, a relationship cannot go anywhere. If you do not trust your friend or partner, you will spend a lot of your time worrying and looking over your shoulder to find them doing things that don’t honor your relationship. If there isn’t trust, what is your relationship built upon?
3. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Just as Aretha Franklin sings it, may we always remember the importance of respect in all relationships. You have to give respect to get respect. Don’t stiff arm your relationship and fail to respect the other point of views. We know it’s hard, but we also know that sometimes if we take a moment to see what views or thoughts the other person has, we might actually be surprised to see things in a different way. We aren’t saying you have to feel and see everything the same way as your friend or partner, but you do have to respect their thoughts and beliefs. You have to respect them enough to let them have their own beliefs. In return, they shouldn’t expect you to follow the lead on everything and believe and do everything they say either.
4. Choose your battles. In relationships, there are going to be things that you fight about and don’t agree on. Choose your battles though. If you make everything a battle, it will appear that you are always fighting and always unhappy with one another. For example, if there are 5 things that your significant other does that just really drives you mad, if you point each one of them out, every single day, they’re going to get tired of that really fast. Instead, choose what is most important to you, and try to communicate and request a change in the calmest manner.
5. Appreciate one another. Whether it’s a friendship or a relationship you’re trying to nourish, make sure that you give appreciation. We all like to be thanked and appreciated, right? So put yourself in their shoes and be sure to notice and draw attention to the positive things.
Relationships are an amazing thing, and if you surround yourself with positive and flourishing relationships, you will find yourself to be happier and more positive overall.
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