Making your relationships more fulfilling for yourself as well as the important people in your life might seem challenging, but it can be surprisingly easy. Most of us are aware of what makes a good relationship and can sense when one of our relationships isn’t going well. Often, improving any aspect of your life is a matter of being reminded of the tried and true behaviors that create happy relationships. Here are six simple steps you can take right now to improve your friendships, family dynamics, and even interactions with co-workers.
Respect everyone
Respecting someone means to accept them for who they are and how they choose to think, feel, and live. We cannot change others, and trying to do so is both futile and presumptuous. By accepting others and meeting them with respect, we save ourselves needless frustration. No one wants to be told who they should be or how to live. The sooner you apply this principle, the sooner you improve your relationships.
Be kind
Kindness is one of the most attractive qualities in anyone. It’s even more alluring when a person thinks and feels that all others are worthy of their consideration and kindness, treating everyone with mutuality and compassion. People notice kindness and recognize when someone genuinely cares. This approach is easy to adopt if you treat other people the way you would treat anyone you truly care about.
Be happy for others
In today’s highly competitive environments, it could be tempting to develop the attitude that if we don’t have what we want, then no one else should have it either. However, this mindset is both unhealthy and unproductive. Instead, we should learn to celebrate others’ successes and invite them to celebrate our achievements. Offering good wishes toward others brings good wishes upon ourselves.
Let go of resentments
When we hold onto anger or resentment toward others, we usually end up harming ourselves more than the person we’re upset with. Anger and resentment can chain us to the event or circumstance that hurt us, preventing us from moving on in life and experiencing the love and kindness we could be sharing with others. Letting go of this emotional baggage allows us to free ourselves from past turmoil.
Remember the small things
If you think back to your most cherished memories with the important people in your life, you might find that those moments weren’t built on expensive gifts, events, or experiences. Instead, they were filled with small, meaningful gestures and shared experiences. While you can’t do special things for everyone in your life, showing your most important loved ones how much they mean to you can have a profound impact on your relationships.
Follow the Golden Rule
There’s a saying that we should never expect others to give us what we’re not willing to give them. The Golden Rule embodies this sentiment: Treat others the way you would like to be treated. If you want love, offer love to others. If you hope for success, provide service or value for others. This rule is simple and, best of all, it works.
Remembering and applying these six steps in your daily life can greatly improve your relationships across the board. For more information on how to improve your relationships, consider visiting resources such as the American Psychological Association’s page on building better relationships.
