In order for a relationship to grow, it needs care and nurturing. In this months Conscious Connections, we share with you 10 ways to nurture your relationship.
Kind, consistent, and honest communication. Without talking, your relationship will not survive. The more you communicate, the closer you will be.
The willingness to work through disagreements. Disagreements will happen, and although they can cause difficulty and discomfort, you must both be willing to work and communicate respectfully to overcome them.
A sense of humor, some fun, and a bit of distraction from the stressors of daily life. You can’t spend all your free time “working” on your relationship — don’t make it a hobby. Discuss what you like to do, where you’d like to go, and how you both like to have fun. Then go do it.
Sharing life lessons with the one you love. When you discover something about life, or you make a self-correcting move that is healthy for your relationship, let your partner know. You’ll be surprised by the positive response.
Emotional support, validation, appreciation, and compliments. You have to lift each other up and let each other know the depth of your caring. If your partner does something you appreciate, let them know. If they're having a hard time, support and validate them. These things go a long way to deepen connection and spark positive feelings.
Love, intimacy, romance, and sex. Being great roommates just won’t cut it. There has to be the desire to be together as a couple. Find ways to bring love, intimacy, romance and sex into your every day lives together.
Share dreams together. Intentionally dream about the future 5, 10, or 30 years into the future. This creates shared vision and gives you both things to look forward to.
Set goals that resonate with both of you and achieve them together. Set goals that are meaningful to you both and work to pursue them as a couple. This creates a sense of purpose and teamwork, and allows you to celebrate achievements together.
Compassion, acceptance, and forgiveness. These will show you the way through a difficult time. If you are together for a while, there will be losses, challenges, and some things that you just can’t fix. Weathering the storms together is a big part of what relationships are all about.
Being able to admit mistakes and to talk about them. We all screw up. Learning to understand and let go of mistakes that you or your partner make will turn your life around and give you more time for joy.
A mutual desire to step outside the box. The tried-and-true is good, but the never- attempted-before may be better. It is proven that couples who share new experiences together develop a stronger bond.
Celebrate each other. Treat each other's successes as important, and demonstrate that to each other through celebration.
We hope these tips help you to foster a deep and loving relationship.