As social creatures, humans function better when they have a network of relationships around them. Many people begin to forget that healthy relationships require maintenance work. If you’ve reached a point in your life where you feel your relationships aren’t as satisfying as they ought to be, consider some of the following steps to improve their quality. After all, regardless of the situation, be it romantic, professional, or personal, everyone benefits when their relationships have a solid foundation.
Making Time
When life is busy, it’s easy to let things fall by the wayside, including spending time with those we enjoy the most. Setting time aside for the people in your life ensures they feel appreciated and strengthens your connection. And superficial relationships benefit from having some time dedicated to them; a friendly smile and a polite How’s your day or similar for the shop attendant you see regularly makes the transaction that much more pleasant.
Understanding Personality Differences
We all know how we function within the realms of our personality, but it’s essential to understand everybody else’s personality is different to ensure our relationships work correctly. Gaining an understanding of different personality types and how they interact with each other can help you navigate the best way forward in various relationships. Delving into the Myers-Briggs personality testing gives a good understanding of how judging vs. perceiving personalities interact. Once you’ve gained this understanding, you can actively work to strengthen your bonds with the people around you.
Compromise
A common mantra of many parents is ‘Choose your battles.’ The same is true in all relationships where, at times, although both parties don’t want to do something, somebody will have to give. As such, learning to compromise is an essential skill for both parties if they want to make a relationship continue to work. If there’s an issue you can’t bring yourself to compromise over then learn to explain why you can’t compromise on this point rationally.
Look At The Positives
I hate to say it, but nobody’s perfect 100% of the time. When you spend a lot of time with another person, niggles can creep in, and negative thoughts seep to the forefront of the mind more often. Going out of your way to look for the positives in your relationship is extremely important to combat that negativity. Try reminiscing with friends or loved ones about a happy memory together to bring back those happy feelings that make this relationship so unique.
Listen
We all have a lot to say, even when we’re not saying it with words but with actions or expressions. Be sure to pay attention and listen to what others are saying to you because you might be missing something vital. Recognizing when they’re trying to voice something, even if it’s not verbally, shows that you appreciate them thus validating your relationship.
Putting these simple steps into practice will give those around you the validation they deserve. From seemingly superficial relationships to the big important ones making an effort to strengthen these relationships is beneficial to all involved.
