Creating a healthy relationship with someone else starts with
knowing yourself. Your attitude is the
key to understanding yourself and the world you live in. It’s up to you to make the mental shift from
a negative to positive perspective which allows you to see the possibilities in
your life. ‘Life isn’t about how to
survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.’
Positive
Communication
Sara Blakeslee of Marriage and Family Therapy Institute said
“You should be in touch with your emotional side and be able to communicate
those feelings in a constructive manner.”
Most people are looking for a trustworthy companion who they can spend
time with and have fun with. Sometimes the
small, daily challenges in a relationship can have you focusing on the problems
instead of the positive aspects of your relationship. Blakeslee’s new book, 5 Simple Steps to
Take Your Marriage from Good to Great, gives simple steps on how to enhance
your marriage or relationship. “Expect
less, get more; give incentives and rewards; have daily briefings; implement
change; and keep costs low, benefits high.”
Another suggestion the book states is to build
communication with the use of “affective affirmation” or speaking nice and
affirming words to your spouse. This
positive interchange will initiate the necessary alteration that can transform
a relationship instantly.
Be thoughtful
Simple acts of kindness can rekindle feelings of love,
respect and admiration in a relationship.
“It’s not about the elaborate trips or expensive dinners,” motivational
speaker Jay Forte explains. “Rather life becomes an event when you pay
attention to the details that show you care.”
Celebrate your relationship this week by recreating your first date,
pull out old photos to recall fun memories or dance to music from your dating
years. Surprise your partner with
filling their car up with gas, unloading the dishwasher or purchasing a book by
their favorite author. These thoughtful
gestures let your partner know you are thinking about them and display the
behaviors that say, “I love you.”