6 Tips for Maintaining Healthy Interpersonal Relationships: At some point, we have all asked ourselves this question: is my relationship healthy? Whether it is a relationship with a parent, a friend or a romantic partner, we crave the security of knowing relationships are positive and beneficial. Relationships are so complex and unique, there isn’t a “one size fits all” quiz that will determine if your relationship is flourishing or withering.
Although there isn’t a single answer for how to have a perfect relationship, there are some key traits that exist in every healthy interaction. Remember that there is no such thing as a relationship that doesn’t face challenges at some point, but there is always room for improvement. Take a quick assessment of the relationships that are most important in your life and consider which of the following skills are worth personal improvement. Here are 6 tips on how to keep a healthy relationship:
Table of Contents
Develop listening skills
Naturally, we’re all talkers. Talking about ourselves feels good and is psychologically healthy. However, if all we do is talk about ourselves, we’ll quickly run out of listeners. Listening to others is crucial in building and maintaining relationships because it shows mutual care and respect. We’ve all experienced a conversation that makes us feel more like an audience than a friend. Remember that if you invest in other’s lives and truly listen, they’ll do the same for you.
Here’s a good measure to check whether you are dominating conversations: do you make more comments about your own experience and opinions, or do you ask more questions about the other’s life? A healthy conversation will be a balance of the two, with each person sharing for about the same amount of time.
Be honest
If you were to ask one of your friends to list what he or she believes are the characteristics of a healthy relationship, honesty would likely be in the top five requirements. Even the most wonderful character traits can’t make up for a relationship that lacks honesty, because it affects every part of a relationship.
Honesty doesn’t just mean telling the truth when someone asks you a question. Honesty often involves sharing the details of your life you’d rather keep hidden. It takes courage to own up to your secrets and mistakes, but the people who support you can handle hearing the hard news and want to be there for you. Being honest with your loved ones gives them the opportunity to help you if you need it, and creates a valuable sense of trust.
Be OK with disagreements
You will never find someone who agrees with you on everything. Even if the disagreement is over ice cream flavors or sports teams, you’re bound to come across differences of opinion so it’s important to be comfortable with them. Sometimes others’ beliefs will be more challenging to bear, but practice with open conversations and engaging with the discomfort can help. Over time, you might realize these differences add a depth to your life that you wouldn’t have if you only spent time with people who agree with you.
Apologize
Just like honesty, this one is tricky. Apologizing can be incredibly painful and often requires the courage to bring something heavy up on your own. Despite the difficulty, becoming comfortable with apologizing helps reap major recognition in your relationship. Owning up to your mistakes, big or small, shows that you care enough about your interactions to mend things and acknowledge your own flaws. Although it’s easier to blame others (and others may deserve to share the blame) it’s important to only own your role and opportunities for improvement. If your apology contains excuses or highlights the actions of others, it will come across as insincere.
Communication
Keep people in the loop. Tell loved ones about what is going on in your life. Assume that people want to hear about your accomplishments and your experiences. Don’t just communicate with people, but communicate regularly. Sharing even small details from daily life with people builds much stronger bonds than speaking only occasionally, or after major events. If you need to, schedule phone calls with long distance relationships– friends and family members- or make plans for a weekly visit.
Communication builds community and that is one of your best supports when you’re working on mental health goals.
Express gratitude for your relationships
You may think it goes without saying that you appreciate your friends, but voicing it aloud is one of the best ways to show gratitude. If you’re not sure what to say, a simple “I just want you to know that I value our relationship” or “I’m glad you’re in my life” will go a long way. Everyone yearns to be reminded of their worth and every healthy relationship should make someone feel more important, not less. Sharing your appreciation for someone will also make them more likely to return the favor. Couldn’t we all use a few more reminders that we matter?
