How To Build Healthy Relationships: 10 Keys To Strengthen The Bond
It is known that having healthy relationships and an active social life is favorable for mental health, since it has been shown that the lack of social relationships is closely related to psychological discomfort and the development of some mental disorders, such as mental disorders. Mood.
Therefore, it is advisable to keep in mind some tips on how to build healthy relationships, among which you can find the following: be kind, listen, empathize, show respect, provide support, share hobbies, ask for forgiveness, take responsibility for your own actions, not be controllers with others and other tips that we will see later.
In this article we will see some tips for building healthy relationships in order to promote good mental health.
Building healthy relationships takes time, it is not something that is done overnight, since to do this you first have to know each other carefully and for this it is necessary for both people to do their part. Besides, no relationship is perfect although a healthy relationship is not about everything being perfect, but rather about making sure both people feel good maintaining that relationship most of the time.
To build healthy relationships you need more than attraction or having connected in the beginning, so below we are going to explain some tips that can be useful when building a healthy relationship with another person or with a group of people when you meet. It’s about a group of friends. These tips can also be taken into account when having healthy relationships with family members.
1. Be kind, express gratitude and convey trust
The first tip to keep in mind when trying to build healthy relationships is to behave kindly towards others in a selfless manner. To do this you have to be polite, cordial and attentive to others, without expecting anything in return, instead of trying to demand that others behave towards oneself as expected since by being selflessly kind we will be able to feel good about ourselves and that attitude will be conducive to developing healthy and lasting relationships.
At the same time, a person who has a know-how, who shows a kind but selfless attitude, will be a person who will tend to transmit trust towards the people with whom he or she maintains any type of relationship (couple, friendship or any other). class).
Another important aspect is to express gratitude with others, since no person likes to feel unappreciated and sometimes it is enough to say a simple thank you! Likewise, it is equally important to ask for forgiveness when we have made a mistake and to know how to forgive, without resentment, when the other person has asked us to apologize.
2. Listen
The second fundamental tip is to practice active listening ; It is not enough to simply passively listen to what others are trying to communicate to us, we must do it actively. That means that we must try to understand everything they are trying to convey to us, paying attention to the details and trying to understand their feelings and state of mind at the moment in which they are expressing themselves to us.
3. Empathize
This third tip to take into account when wanting to know how to build healthy relationships has a close relationship with the previous one, since we could say that they go hand in hand and it is none other than trying to empathize, so that We relate to others empathically and compassionately, putting ourselves in the shoes of others and understanding that each one has their own circumstances and that ours are no less important than those of others. Empathizing with others makes it easier for us to establish healthy, deep and long-lasting bonds.
4. Respect and act responsibly
Respecting others and others in general would be the fourth piece of advice to take into account when wanting to know how to build healthy relationships, which consists of welcome others as they are and treat them with dignity being one of the bases for establishing healthy and lasting relationships.
One should take responsibility for one’s own actions and also admit mistakes (or being wrong). Likewise, acting responsibly also goes along the lines of when someone gives his word to another person whom he appreciates, he must keep it.
When wondering how to build healthy relationships, you should keep in mind that it is advisable to communicate well with others. This is not equivalent to speaking in good manners, but rather it consists of going further and ensuring that When you are angry for any reason, take a deep breath and think twice about what you are going to say before he says something that would later be repeated, potentially hurting other people’s feelings.
This does not mean that we should remain silent, but it is advisable to think before speaking and evaluate in this way what would be the best way to communicate things without trying to harm others. Communicate openly and honestly, trying to be assertive, definitely. Likewise, communicating well, talking about how you feel and what you like and don’t like, helps build trust in a relationship and can strengthen it.
You may be interested: “The 5 communication barriers, explained”
6. Share hobbies
It is advisable to look for hobbies that are equally interesting to both members of a relationship as it could be a great way to spend time together (e.g., hiking, visiting museums, going to the gym, playing paddle tennis, traveling, etc.).
It doesn’t matter what kind of hobby it is, as long as it is one that both members enjoy. To know which ones might like both members or several (in case we are talking about establishing healthy relationships within a group of friends or between family members) we would have to try different things until we find hobbies that everyone likes and can enjoy them in company.
By proposing ideas about hobbies that could be shared, you can get to know the other people in the group better, which can be favorable for establishing closer relationships while generating quality time in company.
Related article: “23 hobbies to do at home and have fun”
7. Provide support
Providing support is one of the most important tips to keep in mind when building healthy relationships, since It is essential that within a relationship you can count on the other person, in the good and the bad This involves listening without judgment, trying to understand each other, taking the other person’s opinions into account, supporting the other person when they have made an important decision, etc.
On the other hand, supporting others also consists of motivating them, encouraging them, accompanying them and always being there in their worst moments to help them in whatever way we can to get ahead or simply show them that we are there to listen to them and for whatever they need.
8. Set limits
Establishing limits would be another piece of advice to take into account when trying to understand how to build healthy relationships, in the sense that it is important for each member of a relationship, group of friends or member of a family to delimit their personal space, so manner that excessive dependency does not develop between the different members If the latter happens, it is likely that these people will become isolated from others and end up developing a toxic relationship.
9. Trust the other party
Trusting the other party and that this is reciprocal is a very important tip to keep in mind when looking for how to build healthy relationships, since, otherwise, it is likely that insecurities, limiting beliefs and/or thoughts will begin to arise. negatives associated with emotional ties that will only harm the relationship. If you detect any mistrust, it is essential to try to detect the origin in order to solve the problem and put an end to it.
10. Not being controlling
Not being controlling is another very relevant tip to take into account when wondering how to build healthy relationships, and for this it is important not to fall into an attack of jealousy due to the slightest uncertainty, since it would only lead us to be continually distrustful of the other person and in tension over things that are possibly only the fruit of our imagination. This excessive distrust can lead to us wanting to control at all times where the other person is and with whom, carrying out toxic actions such as inspecting the cell phone.
