Building Stronger Relationships:- When we think of family and friends, we usually picture people who will always be there when needed most – however it can often be the little details of everyday life which strain relationships.
As time is scarce, it becomes easy to take those close to us for granted instead of actively cultivating relationships with them.
Es is easy to be consumed by the stresses of daily life and lose track of those activities which give us joy, but strengthening relationships is crucial at every age and stage in life.
Strong relationships provide us with confidence, support, and insight unlike anything we could find elsewhere.
These relationships offer an avenue to share challenges, achievements, and joys that arise along the way.
Build Stronger Relationships
Present in your relationships is key to strengthening them. Being present means being aware of what’s occurring now, rather than looking past it or ignoring what may happen later.
Presentness involves fully immersing oneself into their surroundings and being aware of your thoughts, feelings and actions. To truly be present you must let go of any distractions, even internal ones like thoughts.
Make sure you are focused on the person speaking to you; otherwise it will be nearly impossible to establish a bond between yourself and another individual.
Being present will enable you to become more self-aware when taking those close to you for granted, and can increase the possibility of real dialogue taking place between all involved.
Being attentive means paying close attention to the words, feelings, and body language of those you interact with.
Respect means being mindful of their needs, priorities, emotions, thoughts and dreams.
2) Try New Activities Together
Experiences shared together are an effective way of building stronger family and friend relationships. They offer an opportunity for people to bond closer, enjoy each other’s company more fully, and form connections on an entirely different level.
Not only will this give you lasting memories, but it can help strengthen the bond between you.
Your time together allows for an opportunity to see each other from an entirely new angle and gain appreciation of one another’s qualities and interests.
Discover new activities that cater to the interests and skills of those you care for, whether that means taking up a shared hobby or trying something totally out-of-the-ordinary.
Activities that help you relax can include meditation and mindfulness exercises.
Learn new activities with your family! Explore new possibilities together.
3) Set Boundaries And Stick To Them
Boundaries are an integral component of relationships, yet many people fail to set or enforce them. By setting and adhering to boundaries, you let others know what behaviors and actions are acceptable to you and which aren’t.
Setting boundaries helps others understand what they can expect from you and is especially essential when dealing with family, friends and others in your social network.
Boundaries allow you to better organize your time by communicating to those around you what will and won’t be done for them.
Example: Let your loved ones know that although you cannot commit to every family event, but would like to remain connected through phone calls, texts and visits.
4) Communicate Clearly And Often
As you strengthen relationships with family and friends, it’s also essential that you enhance communication between you.
Communication requires being honest, transparent and engaging – while listening actively so as to give each person space for expression. Effective dialogue relies on being open-minded and honest when conversing, as well as actively listening so they feel heard by one another.
No matter the difficulty, make an effort to communicate regularly with those closest to you, showing genuine curiosity for their thoughts and feelings. If communication becomes challenging for any reason, try speaking more openly with each person in turn.
Counsellors or therapists may offer necessary help. Family and friend communication can also be challenging in these instances.
If you are having difficulty being heard by one of your loved ones, try being more direct by using an “I-message”. An I-message allows you to express your needs, feelings and thoughts clearly without judgment or criticism from either party involved. For instance: “I want someone who will listen.”
If you feel ignored by your parent, try saying something like this: “I feel ignored when you cancel our plans at the last minute.
As I understand that situations arise unexpectedly, I would appreciate knowing in advance if you can no longer attend an appointment or class.
5) Reconnect With Yourself
As your relationships strengthen with family and friends, you may notice that you spend less time thinking about yourself.
Even as it’s important for you to prioritize others, don’t lose sight of who you are as an individual.
Even as you show love to others through gifts, outings, and other activities, it’s also important to give yourself time and space to appreciate who you are as an individual.
Make time for activities you find enjoyable – hobbies, creative outlets, fitness routines and relaxing activities such as reading or meditation are just a few examples of things that may bring great satisfaction and enjoyment in life.
Make sure to also take steps to protect your mental and emotional well-being by being mindful of your thoughts, feelings, and reactions.
One way of doing this is through practicing self-compassion. Being kind and understanding towards yourself means accepting that mistakes happen from time to time or that not every expectation of yourself has been met.
Also Refer:- Loving and Lasting Relationship
Bottom Line
As you strengthen relationships with family and friends, you will also discover just how much of yourself you have to give.
Discovering your gifts may help you to expand as an individual and increase feelings of fulfillment in life.
Strengthen your relationships with family and friends to realize how much of yourself you have to give.
Establishing strong bonds can take time; don’t expect results immediately.
Important is staying true to yourself and trusting that relationships will strengthen over time.