How to Cultivate and Maintain Healthy Relationships
Hi everyone!
Secure and healthy relationships are usually characterised by a deep sense of trust, emotional connection, and a deep understanding of one another. Working on developing and maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by focusing on various aspects of understanding ourselves to help us experience healthier relationships. Here are a few ideas which I hope you find useful :)
Understanding Attachment Styles: I have always been thoroughly interested in the work of attachment styles, and they can tell us a lot about ourselves and how we communicate and feel connected to those around us. Our experiences in childhood are linked to our attachment styles, and sometimes we may have had a more challenging upbringing, but this doesn’t mean we cannot build a more securer attachment style.
Learning More About Yourself: Often, we are so focused on others that we forget ourselves. Take the time to reflect on your thoughts, feelings and emotions. What are they telling you and how can you cultivate a more self-aware approach in your relationships?
Open Communication: One of the main reasons why relationships can run into struggles are due to a lack of communication. You can improve your communication with one another by providing a safe space for you and the other person to express their needs. Actively listen to one another which I know you are all very good at because you all have such a skill in actively being able to listen to others and to form a deeper understanding.
Developing Healthy Boundaries: Boundaries are so important because they help you and others feel safe and they set healthy limits on what is and is not okay. They are best applied when you are feeling calm for the best possible outcomes and at a time that feels appropriate. Our boundaries should symbolise our compassion for ourselves and those around us. Sometimes boundaries can be met with anger and resistance from the other individual, but they actually make relationships easier as there are some guidelines on what is and isn't acceptable. They are often difficult to set because we feel like we do not want to come across as mean or difficult but once you shift your perception into realising they are beneficial for all involved it can help you apply them with kindness
Please share: how do you cultivate and maintain healthy relationships with others?
How can I work on boundaries if I have overbearing parents who don’t know about boundaries and think that because we’re family, it should not be an issue or it’s fine?
@browniebear that is a good question. I guess my experience that I have had with people that do not remember or respect my boundaries is I have to learn what emotions I am willing to experience and which I am not.
What I do with unreasonable people is not react with anger. This can be challenging but it is a good long term goal. I start out by not letting anger take over and remove myself from the situation as best I can. Later as I get more adept at coping, I actually start to respond to people "I hear you..." and I try to get them to hear my side. But sometimes I just listen to as much of what they say, but do not arrive at the same conclusions.
It is not easy but my own reactions is all I can control.
@browniebear
Try to call a meating and see if you can get some understand from them or you will seek professional outside help for your issue ... see how it goes - you can ask them for their suggestions and take them up with your school counceler befor tableing a follow up with them ... good luck❗