Strengthen A Struggling Relationship
Enjoying nature, having money in the bank, a nice home to live, a sense of purpose and traveling all make life seem to shine a little brighter. However, without good people around like friends, family and a good partner, life only shines so bright.
As we look back at our greatest memories in our lives, we often shared those experiences with someone. Maybe it was your best friend who you won the game with or your friend in the play with you. It could have been the time your boyfriend bought you roses and took you on that vacation, or it could have been just sitting at the beach relaxing with those you love.
As we venture through our experience of life, the people we spend it with and the relationships we have make it that much greater.
We’ve all probably went through one of those times when a relationship was struggling. The time when we broke up with the one we loved, when it seemed like someone in our family was against us, or that time when one of our great friends did something that hurt us.
Of all the relationships I’ve had in my life, the ones that seem to sting most was when I was going through difficult times with my significant other. As I look back, I remember breaking up with a girlfriend, or not seeing eye to see and the frustration of the struggling relationship seeped into all the other areas of my life.
This is especially true when it’s someone you really like or someone who really likes you and it just seems like the relationship isn’t aligning the way you hoped.
While not all relationships last, there is a handful of things we can embrace and carry with us to make the relationships we do have last and prosper.
Empowering Your Relationships
You may have noticed that healthy, vibrant relationships help the days flow with more ease.
Having those good relationships in business help attract more deals, create more win-wins and help opportunities flow your way.
Good relationships in our homes, whether it’s with our family or our loved one, makes the house shine with more peace, compassion and love. It makes us want to spend more time in these environments because of the energy the relationship provides.
As you are probably well aware, relationships always include a minimum of two people. While your relationships will be you and another person, you may have recognized you cannot control what that person does.
In all the relationships we have, we can only control ourselves and the way we show up with the other person.
Embracing this, you can make it a mission to make each relationship shine with peace and compassion, even the difficult ones.
3 Keys To Strengthen A Struggling Relationship
#1 – Compassionate Talking and Listening – All relationships involve communication of some sort. This is done through words and listening. The first thing we can do to strengthen a struggling relationship is to practice speaking peacefully and compassionately. We can speak towards the solution instead of the problem. As important as words are to relationships, listening is just as important. Begin the practice of listening with ears of compassion to the words of the other person. Listen not to respond, but listen to hear where the other person is coming from.
#2 – Monitor Your Thoughts and Feelings – Everywhere we go, our vibes are picked up by others. This is especially true in our relationships and the people we spend a lot of time with. In strengthening a struggling relationship, we can’t expect it to heal if we are entering into our interactions with negative thoughts or feelings. Do your best to monitor your thoughts with those you are around and watch your feelings from an observer standpoint. If you enter into your relationships, especially with your significant other with thoughts of anger and/or feelings of annoyance, they will be picked up and reciprocated.
#3 – Shift Your Focus From Flaws to Applause – It’s easy to pick up on all the things someone is doing right. This is common in intimate relationships. You meet a person, they seem magical, you hang out for a few months, date, and start spending more and more time together. Soon, you forget about their seeming magic as their flaws start to pop up. If you focus on their flaws, they will expand. Do your best to focus on the good within them more than you do the bad. Shift your focus from flaws towards applause. Don’t just keep the applause inside yourself but let them know the things you appreciate about them.
Heal, Amend, or Empower One Relationship
Is there a relationship you’ve been struggling with in your life?
If so, make it a goal this week to either heal it, amend it or empower it. This can be done by a phone call or a visit.
Remember the 3 Keys mentioned above as you move toward this.
Please note, there are some relationships not worth saving. One should look honestly at some of the most difficult relationships they have and ask whether it is bringing them more happiness than sadness.
Remember, of all your relationships, you can only control you. If your relationship isn’t the best with yourself, nearly all your relationships will suffer.
Peace
Happiness
Compassion
Respect
Jeffon Seely