Tips to Prioritize and Cultivate Strong and Healthy Relationships
By: Elizabeth Kaplan, LCSW
Do you ever take time and think about your relationships and ways in which they can improve? Whether relationships are platonic or romantic, they aren’t always easy to navigate as things in your life continue to change. Relationships are a huge part of your life; it is a way of connection to both you and others. It’s important to have people to celebrate wins and be there for a hug and, to also support you when times are tough. Cultivating positive relationships is essential for your mental and physical health. Many findings have concluded that your relationships and how happy you are in your relationships has a powerful impact on your physical and mental health. In a healthy relationship, you feel happy, supported, and loved, and you feel confident to reach your goals knowing that there are people there to cheer you on. In order to keep healthy relationships, you have to continue to cultivate and care for the relationships that mean most to you. Cultivating strong relationships takes time and effort but if the relationship is worth it to you, it can feel easy to put in that time and energy. Here are some tips to help prioritize and cultivate strong and healthy relationships in your life:
Be Present: It can be hard to be present. It can even feel difficult to put your phone away when you are with a loved one or friend. Try your best to block out time that works for you and the person you are with, a time that you aren’t feeling you need to get back to work, look at your phone or go run that errand you needed to do. Doing this will help you to be fully present and show interest and joy to be with them. Give them your full attention for the time you are together.
Show Empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share someone else’s feelings. When you want to try to build a strong relationship, it is important to show empathy because when you express understanding for one another, it can help cultivate a stronger relationship. If a friend is going through a tough time, it can be helpful for them if you are trying to understand their experience. This can make that person feel understood and heard, which can lead to feelings of trust and honesty in your communication together. There are many ways to show empathy. This includes actively listening, respecting their feelings, showing support, and offering help.
Communicate Openly: Communication is key to a strong relationship. It is important to be open and share your thoughts and feelings with the other person in the relationship so that they can understand your needs (and vice-versa). It can be difficult to communicate with your friend or loved one especially if you are sharing that you have been hurt by them. Even though it can feel challenging, it is better to communicate feelings of hurt than to harbor those emotions inside. Find time to communicate when you both have the space to really listen. Repairing parts of a relationship that need some extra TLC can help lead to stronger foundations for the future.
Set Boundaries When Needed: Setting boundaries is not only important to maintaining strong relationships but also essential to keeping a relationship healthy. It is crucial that both parties know each other’s expectations for the relationship. When both sides feel respected, they also feel safe, which fosters a strong relationship. Setting healthy boundaries shows that you respect the other person’s feelings, needs and values.
If you are struggling with cultivating and maintaining healthy relationships, or want to begin the process of doing so, please reach out to us to discuss more at hello@upsidertherapy.com. We would love to support you in managing your important relationships in your life.