5 Ways to Improve the Quality of your Relationships

 

Most of us enjoy the company and companionship of others in our personal lives, and all of us value strong relationships in the workplace and in our other day to day interactions. No matter how brief a meeting or an exchange between two people may be it will produce an outcome of some sort, whether the outcome is immediately recognized and validated or not.

It doesn’t matter what kind of relationship you may be enjoying or having trouble with, being proactive in improving that relationship will be mutually beneficial to the people involved as it will develop an attitude of maturity within you as well as them, and you will develop a higher level of respect for yourself and others.
Below we will cover five ways you can improve your life relationships and form stronger bonds with the other individuals in your life. Whether at home, work, or play you can practice habits and behaviors which transform those superficial associations into productive relationships of depth while simultaneously bringing the more personal relationships to a much stronger, more stable, and lasting state.
5 Ways to Improve the Quality of your Relationships

1.   Be a great listener.

If you have a friend, family member, or business associate who knows without a doubt that you are listening clearly and striving to understand them you are building trust. As we all know, trust is the foundation of any solid, lasting relationship, and showing interest, concern, and care are vital to building this trust.

2.   Exercise compassion.

It can be very easy, particularly when you know and associate with an individual who seems to be crisis oriented or have a wide array of problems. Put yourself in their shoes by thinking of a similar experience you have gone through or by simply imagining yourself in their situation. How do you feel in those shoes? The point is to demonstrate your willingness to be objective and understanding without coming across as judgmental.

3.   Speak kindly and smile often. 

Be on top of your tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions at all times; you may be able to make your words sound nice and sweet, but if you are not smiling or your body language is aggressive you have nullified your words and damaged any trust that exists. Do not put the burden of worrying about what you think of the other person on their shoulders.

4.   Forget about damaging your own ego.

Any solid relationship of value, whether personal or work-oriented, can only be built by an equal amount of give and take. Realize the fact that the relationship in question is not all about you; there are many other facets to the individual’s life you are in relationship with which you know nothing about. Keep things in perspective and be responsible for showing concern for the other person and yourself equally.

5.   Forgive for the sake of not only you or the other person, but for the sake of the relationship itself.

Forgiveness is essential to a healthy self-esteem and a life of freedom from burdens. When you hold grudges against another you are hurting yourself more than anyone else, and you are damaging your own ability to trust and form strong relationships with others. Just because you forgive does not mean you are giving the other person a lifetime pass to trample on or hurt you; it simply means you care enough about yourself, the other person, and the relationship to move past any issues. Whether the other individual is willing to do the same is irrelevant; if you want strong relationships in your life you must learn to forgive; it is as simple as a choice.
Our day to day interactions and relationships with others are what make being a human being such a wonderful gift. Allowing others into our lives and worlds is equal to giving a part of ourselves away, and this involves risking pain and disappointment. If you practice the above behaviors regularly and make them a part of who you are in any life relationship you will find you have far more fulfilling relationships than disappointing ones. Begin to strengthen the bonds you have with others which form your social, personal, and professional life and experience success, fulfillment, and happiness today.