Whether you have been dating your partner for six months or married for five years, relationships are based on commitment, mutual respect and diligence. To say that your connection should be special is an understatement, and it would be a shame not to enrich it as much as you can.
All relationships go through phases. There will be good times and bad times. When you realize that your relationship is in trouble, try not to let it get you down. Great relationships don’t just happen; they take time and energy to find the right balance.
Although every relationship is different, there are some things you can do to ensure that you’re maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
1. Set Targets Together
We tend to do better as individuals when we have goals to achieve, and this also applies to relationships. After children leave home and you spend multiple years together, your common goals may no longer seem clear.
If you want to achieve both of your individual targets, you need to work together as a team. Communicating your goals to one another can help both new relationships and ones much further down the line. By communicating, you open the door to collaboration – you don’t have to work at your goals independently of one another.
Whether it’s going for promotions or achieving a healthier lifestyle, the love and support of your partner can help you get one step closer to your target. That’s not just through practical actions, but through passive encouragement.
Knowing each others goals and targets also helps you to see where you and your partner’s plans may align and could even open the door to mutual success.
2. Show Your Appreciation
Being kind and compassionate to your partner should be a daily habit. Expressing loving thoughts can nourish the relationship by helping you and your partner remember what it is you treasure about each other.
Some people need to be told “I love you” several times every day. Others need to have at least 20 minutes of one-on-one time each day. Sometimes a hug is enough for others. Learn to understand your partner’s love language and be generous with praise and affection. Letting your partner know that you’re grateful for their presence can help reduce some of the emotional load on the relationship.
3. Know That Disappointment Can Happen in Any Relationship
When our expectations don’t match reality, disappointment occurs. There will always be differences in the expectations of two people. This means that disappointment can occur to some extent in all relationships.
We tend to focus on the negative side, and then we use this “evidence” to reinforce the belief that our relationships are full of disappointment. Rather, it’s better to accept the occurrence of disappointment.
Whether it is an aspect of your partner that you find difficult to understand or the two of you will never take a salsa class together, once you accept it, you will stop feeling bad about it.
You can’t control everything, and sometimes we hurt the people we love, but it’s important to know that this happens to everyone. Overcoming these difficulties can help you feel better.
Choose to focus on the part that meets your expectations and even brings you unexpected blessings.
4. Learn to forgive
When we disappoint and hurt each other emotionally, it’s often not because we want to. Clashes and arguments can happen in any relationship and it’s important to take time to reflect on how this affects your relationship. Your partner may do things, unintentionally, that strike a chord or hurt your feelings – try to understand why this happened. It’s important to know if it was accidental or deliberate – this can tell you a lot about a person.
If their intentions were good, and upsetting you was an accidental consequence of their actions, learning to forgive is extremely important. You can’t always stay hung up on every issue in your relationship. That being said, more serious issues require more considered thought. You shouldn’t stay in a relationship where you’re consistently upset or hurt by your partner.
Approach your issues with a measured head. In certain situations, forgiveness means promising to leave the wounds of the past behind to allow for new possibilities in the future.
5. Learn to Discuss and Let Go of the Past
Many times, disputes in relationships are simply due to poor communication. If we listen and share more clearly, it can be easily resolved. Also, when you talk about a problem, always try to find a solution. Bringing up old arguments without resolving them can create added complications, so you have to deal with these issues and put them to rest.
If you continue to think about the past, this could be a sign that you’re not happy or prepared for the emotional toll of the relationship. In these circumstances, you should step back and think about it. What’s the root cause of the issue? Is it rational or a consequence of emotional baggage?
Remember, finding a solution can sometimes mean realizing that you both look at the problem differently and that you should respect the opinions of each other.
By focusing on the reasons for this recurring feeling, you will find clarity within yourself and what you want from your relationship with your partner.
To Conclude
Strong relationships don’t just happen. To build a thriving relationship with your partner, you have to put time and effort into it.
Use these 5 tips above to start reinforcing your relationship immediately. After all, healthy relationships are an important part of living a good life.
If you’re looking to strengthen your relationship, Ceed is here to help you! Speak to one of our life coaches to find out more.