Regardless of what some people think, relationships do not happen overnight. Whether it’s a love relationship, or a friendship, our bonds with the people we love require a lot of invested time and effort.
Just like flowers need sunlight and water to flourish, our relationships also need our utmost care and our unconditional love to thrive. They simply cannot survive on their own.
The only way a relationship can flourish is if two emotionally available human beings are 100% ready and willing to let go of their egos and work hard to make things work.
These are 17 things we should all starт doing in our relationships:
1. GET RID OF THE TOXIC PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES
First things first, we need to let go of people who do not help us evolve and grow. If we want to make this life worthwhile, we have to get rid of the toxicity in our lives and surround ourselves with people who will see our worth and love us from the bottom of their hearts.
2. GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE
Just because we’ve heard something about someone, doesn’t mean that we have the right to judge the book by its cover. Each and every one of us has a story. We all carry our emotional load. So, let’s stop judging people based on their appearance. Let’s give the people we don’t know a fair chance to introduce themselves.
3. BE KIND AND RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE
Treat everyone with the same level of respect and kindness.
Not just your loved ones, the ones who are nice to you or the people who can do something for you. The real measure of a man is how he treats people who cannot do anything for him.
4. ACCEPT OTHERS JUST THE WAY THEY ARE
More importantly, do not try to change people. If there’s something about them that you dislike, do not try to mold them into someone you’d love. Leave them be just the way they are. Embrace their individuality, and if you can’t accept their imperfections, let them go.
5. BE HAPPY FOR OTHERS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS
Let people know how much you respect their hard work and their efforts. Show them how happy you are for their personal achievements. Praise their success. Cheer for them. Encourage them to go further. Be grateful for their happiness as if it is your own.
6. EMBRACE OUR IMPERFECTIONS
Understand that we all our just a combination of peculiar flaws and perfect imperfections. Accept the fact that you’ll never reach that ideal perfection in life because perfection is simply an illusion. Embrace your weird, imperfect, awesome self.
7. FORGIVE AND MOVE ON
Do not waste your life holding grudges. Do not condemn yourself to a life full of hate and misery. Fight, cry, scream, shout, get mad, but always forgive. Do it because you deserve to move on and live a peaceful life. Do it for yourself.
8. DO RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS THAT CAN BRIGHTEN SOMEONE’S DAY
You probably have no idea how much power your actions hold. Sometimes even those little, trivial things that mean nothing to you, can mean the whole wide world to some. Open your heart and engage in random acts of kindness once in a while. Be the reason for someone’s smile.
9. KNOW WHO YOUR REAL FRIENDS ARE
When it comes to friendships, it should always be quality over quantity.
Pay close attention to the people you call your friends. You may think you have a lot of friends, but the truth is, the real ones are usually counted on one hand.
10. BE LOYAL
If you promised to be there, show up. Be loyal to the people who mean the world to you. True, unconditional love has nothing to do with being physically inseparable. It’s more about a spiritual connection that never fades away.
11. STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE ONES WHO MEAN THE WORLD TO YOU
Being too busy is not an excuse. When you love someone, you go out of your way to be with them and let them know just how much they mean to you.
Don’t ignore the ones you love. The greatest gift you can give to someone is your own time.
12. KEEP THE PROMISES YOU MAKE
More importantly, if you say you’re going to do something, make sure you are actually physically an emotionally able to do it.
Don’t string people along thinking that you can get away with it. Keep the promises you make. Remember, words hurt much more than actions do.
13. ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH
Don’t play games. Always tell it like it is. The truth might sometimes be painful and dangerous, but a sugar-coated comforting lie will destroy you.
Be honest, no matter how bad it hurts. The real ones will always appreciate your sincerity.
14. TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED
Don’t expect to receive something you are not willing to give. If you want to be treated with love, then love. If you want to be treated with respect, then respect everyone around you. What comes around, goes around, remember?
15. TALK LESS AND LISTEN MORE
We’re all so eager to give our reply, make that smartass comment and save the day, that sometimes we forget that the only thing people need is to do is to just listen.
Try to keep your opinions for yourself for once and just be there for people. No comments, no replies, no nothing. Just your unconditional attention and your silence.
16. ALWAYS SAY WHAT YOU MEAN
Give people the information you yourself would want to hear. The truth. Always say what you mean and always mean what you say. Maintain a solid, functioning communication and be real. It’s the only way your relationships will thrive.
17. MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF
Take care of your loved ones, but never lose yourself in the process of loving them. You have to make time for yourself, focus on your needs, and pay attention to your relationship with yourself. Learn to love yourself first, so you can love others.
