Skip to main content

How to build a strong and healthy relationship

Hello & welcome to my blog in 2020! 

I'm pretty sure I've said this on my blog a good few entries back but how my mind works when it comes to writing is that I can only create content when I feel passionate or sure of something or when it's something that I've recently experienced. This is why I'm coming to you today with a blog post on the key things I've learned through the course of my (almost) 5 year-long relationship. 

I've spent a huge amount of time with my SO over Christmas, which only made me realize how important some of these are for a healthy and strong relationship. Before I get into it, I'd like to put a quick disclaimer out there: I know every relationship is different and I'm not here to give professional advice BUT these have worked for me & I can't see why they wouldn't be important in any type of personal relation! 
A common misconception about relationships is that they should be smooth and easy. Realistically, that's almost never the case, and if it is, it's probably going to get quite boring pretty quickly! Relationships are hard work and the extent of the work you need to put in depends on factors such as your actual personalities, the stage you're at in life or if you have kids, etc. 

What I think should make the top of the list though is communication and solving problems as soon as they arise. Talk talk talk. Don't keep it in unless you need a minute to calm down. This applies to anything and everything. Help your partner get to know you better and ask questions so they also feel acknowledged and appreciated. Tell them how you feel and don't apologize for the way you feel. 

 In times of conflict, hear them out to get their side of the story and then be the one to give your perspective. The more you talk, the better understanding you'll have of your partner's wants, needs and preferences, and conflicts related to these will become rare the better you know them.

Next on my list is compromise. Unless you're two identical people, you will have to make a compromise at some stage. Things are usually great at the start and people find it easy to let go of things to suit their partners. Over time, boundaries have to be set in order to keep both people happy. 

Whether you want to go 50/50 or 80/20 should depend on your priorities and how important having things your way is in that particular situation. Effective communication with your partner mentioned above will help you assess that, because once you know them well and they know you well, you'll understand what's important for each other and it'll be easier to make compromises or decide whose needs should be prioritized each time.

Next, there's trust. You can't build a relationship without trust. This, of course, comes with time but once it's there, it honestly feels amazing to know that you can trust your partner to be loyal or be there for you in times of difficulty. 

Last but not least, there must be mutual respect and effort coming from both sides to make any relationship work. 
* * * 
So these are my tips for a healthy and strong relationship! Is there anything you'd add to the list? 

Paula x
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

''When you go back home''

I am not one to be easily offended. In fact, I think that we've all become very aware. Every joke and every comment we make is carefully curated, positioned in a way that has absolutely no potential to be taken as deragatory by whoever we're speaking to.  Political correctness or not, I love how awake the society has become through all of this. The empathy that emanates from some of us when speaking to someone coming from a minority group, or experiencing difficulties that we will never go through ourselves.  But I can't help feeling hurt when assumptions are made. It bothers me when someone assumes how I feel, who I am or where I seem to belong.  It stings, when someone asks me when I last visited ''home'' after 15 years of being an expat. Because truth to be told, I have no ''home'' in my native country. HERE is my home. Here is where I belong, where a piece of me will stay even if I choose to move somewhere else in the future. The slightes...
Post a Comment
Read more

2021

 2021...where do I even start! The last 2 years of my life felt like a shapeless lump of time. I've grown, matured, moved forward in various aspects of life, yet it still feels like I've put a lot of my dreams and plans on the backburner, for obvious reasons. It wasn't all so bad though. This past year I... Picked up new hobbies Got promoted Bought my first car Saw one of my closest friends get married Discovered my inner child Had my 1st anniversary of being vegetarian Travelled for the first time since the pandemic broke out Learned to love my own company and bring myself on solo dates Made new connections Met my cousin's new baby Learned how to control my negative emotions better (mindset is everything.) Discovered new things about myself, who I am, and what I really want from life and personal relationships I'm sure I've had many other happy moments and realizations this past year, but these are the ones that come to mind first. With all that's going on ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Find your inner child, and learn from them

Our level of responsibility increases as we grow older. We change, inside and out, develop new relationships and focus on the future.  Future education, jobs, relationships, maybe buying a house. That's all well and good, we have to keep growing, learning, progressing....that's human nature.  But while we try to find our feet in this new stage of life, let's not forget about the inner child. It's that priceless part of you that is absolutely unique, raw, and selfless.  As per the Oxford Dictionary, the term 'inner child' refers to  ''a person's supposed original or true self, especially when regarded as concealed in adulthood.'' Why connecting with your inner child is important - 2 key benefits: 1. Becoming more curious, motivated, and energized... The inner child and its curiosity, creativity, and zest for life are uncanny. The sad part? We tend to lose a lot of these traits as we grow older.  Reconnecting with the inner child allows for the...
Post a Comment
Read more