- Accept and celebrate differences!
One of the biggest challenges in relationships is that we are all different. We feel more comfortable when people are more like us, when they think and act in the way we expect them to. However, relationships would be dull if everyone thought and acted the same; the novelty of sameness would soon wear off!
2. Develop Empathy!
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Empathy is a vital skill for successful relationships. It means taking time to understand where the other person may be coming from instead of judging and criticizing them. Having empathy helps you to be patient and kind.
3. Notice and focus on the other person’s assets!
Yes, everyone has traits that irritate us! Everyone also has traits that we can admire (if we want to). Choose to find and focus on that which you admire!
4. Compliment them!
Compliments make people feel good and then they associate you with that feeling, which improves your relationship! Make sure your compliments are genuine and specific. The more you compliment, the better you’ll get at it!
5. Remember, life is like a boomerang.
Love attracts love. Appreciation attracts appreciation. Friendliness attracts friendliness. Cooperativeness attracts cooperativeness.
Grumpiness attracts grumpiness. Rage attracts rage. Blaming and complaining attracts blaming and complaining.
6. The words you use are powerful!
Be positive, warm and friendly. Relationships are like a bank account. When you use positive words, you are making deposits. When you use negative, condemning words, you are making withdrawals. In order for your account to not get overdrawn, you need to make sure you are making more deposits than withdrawals!
