Nobody likes to be alone, and when you are in a relationship, you wish is good enough. A strong relationship can be hard to build, but the first step is knowing where to even start.
A strong relationship is not one that is just built on grand gestures. You want to be consistent in your efforts and be really intentional in your actions.
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Below are 10 simple ways to build a strong relationship. These steps will even help you lay a good foundation for a long-lasting one.
Communicate openly and often
A strong relationship is one built on sincere and open communication. Therefore, if you desire a strong relationship with your partner or friends, the first step is cultivating the habit of making frequent and open discussions where you have no hidden agenda. You will make people trust you, consequently strengthening your relationship with them.
Listen actively
When your partner is talking, do you listen? Or do you always just want to say something? People generally prefer a listening ear to a talking mouth. Just as open communication is important, the next thing you should do to strengthen your relationship is listen attentively to them when they talk. You have shared your opinion; let them share theirs too without any interruption. Only cut your partner off when what you want to say is highly beneficial.
Show appreciation
No act of goodness should go unappreciated when you are looking to build a strong relationship, no matter how little. Reward your partner’s kindness with sweet words of appreciation. This way, they want to do more! You could also reciprocate the gesture once in a while. You can say sweet words like ‘that’s so thoughtful of you’, ‘wow, thank you so much’, ‘I’d always wanted this, thanks!’.
Spend quality time together
One quality way to take your relationships from ground to top-notch is prioritizing how much quality times you spend together with your partner. It is often easy to forget how you got to your current level in the relationship. Spending time together allows for open communication, as mentioned earlier. What makes the time spent together is the time and attentiveness involved. Try to ensure that you put all distractions away during this time.
Practice forgiveness
Resentments and anger can quickly build up in any relationship if left unchecked for too long. You should learn to forgive if you are looking to make your relationship strong. Now, don’t get me wrong, practicing forgiveness does not mean you must allow behaviours that cause you pain all the time. However, having a forgiving spirit helps you lighten your emotional burdens. So, next time your partner offends you, before getting worked up by their action, first try to understand them from their own point of view. You are not forgiving for the sake of tolerating their excesses. You are preserving your self-esteem and liberating yourself in the process
Respect each other’s individuality
When trying to build a strong relationship, you need to identify and understand what makes each person in the relationship unique and learn to value and respect them. This includes their qualities, opinions, point of view, and experiences. You can not make everyone around you become you, something must have attracted each person to one another. Respecting each other’s individualities helps create an environment where everyone feels among and pursues their growth objectives.
Create shared goals
For any relationship to work, there have to be shared goals and objectives that will ensure everyone involved has a picture of where the group or relationship is headed. And for this to work, it means you must already be practicing open communication as mentioned above. Then you make each other identify interests you have in common and work on plans that lead to achieving them. Doing this will help make your relationship stronger, as everyone has clarity of purpose, which is a major driving force for the effective and efficient outcomes everyone desires.
Be consistent
If there’s a very important step to building a strong relationship, it is being consistent. You need to reflect on your past activities, behaviors, and opinions and find a pattern that defines you. People love reliable people, and being consistent means that you don’t frequently disappoint. Even in difficult choices, let people know what you can or can not do. If you need to take a step back to maintain your integrity, please do so instead of making a promise that you know you can never fulfill.
Work through conflict constructively
We have already talked about open communication as well as listening attentively during conversations. These tools will help you in navigating through conflicts in your relationships. To resolve conflicts, be on the lookout for common grounds before things go south. It is of your advantage if you are able to stay calm by not letting your immediate emotions overtake your good sense of judgement. Remind yourself why the person you’re dealing with is important. This will help you see fewer of the issues that lead to unresolvable conflicts and help you build a stronger relationship.
Grow together
Building a strong relationship is a collaborative effort between you and your partner or partners. A good relationship should encourage the growth and development of the parties involved. While as a person you strive to grow, ask yourself if you are blocking the way for others. If that’s the case, then you need to make positive changes to your mindset. You can only nurture and grow a strong relationship when others grow with you and also grow personally.
Celebrate each other
Does the success of your partner make you happy? Have you celebrated their achievement with them yet? If you answered no to either of these questions, and you are aware of their success, it is either you are in the wrong relationship or there’s a little bit of jealousy in you. Be happy for your partner and sincerely celebrate with them when they achieve success. When it’s your turn, you will receive the same energy from them or even more.
Conclusion
One way to live a happy and fulfilling life is by surrounding yourself with people who share your dreams and appreciate your presence. By following the steps above, you can ultimately build and keep strong relationships with the people who make you happy and help you to actualize your goals in life.
