Building Healthy Relationships.
Relationship can be seen as the state of being related or interrelated, the way in which two or more people are connected. At every stage of our lives, we are in one relationship or another, so I wouldn't be wrong to say "relationship is what makes up life and makes it meaningful". No man can achieve true success alone. Life is meant to be shared.
One of the greatest challenges our world has experienced is lack of healthy relationships amongst people, which has led everyone take to the path of self-centeredness, but below, I will be sharing a few tips to restoring healthy relationships in our societies.
How can we build healthy relationships?
1. Authenticity - Real/genuine relationship is not superficial, surface-level, chitchat, it is heart-to-heart sharing. It only occurs when people get real about who they are, and what is happening in their life. So, "I" holds the first level to a successful relationship, not "them". This is where we all get it wrong most times, we think its about the other person. One's willingness to share their fears, reveal their feelings, acknowledge their weakness, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, and ask for genuine heal/prayers is the very first step, because pretending, roleplaying, politicking and superficial politeness would never help. Being genuine and real requires both humility and courage, rejection and being hurt again. Yes! But it is the only true way to grow and become emotionally healthy. We only grow by taking risk and the most difficult risk of all is being honest with ourselves and others.
2. Mutuality - This is art of giving and receiving, it is the heart of a healthy relationship, i:e sharing responsibility and helping each other. Most times, relationships fail because one party gets started getting the feeling of "they're the only one shouldering everything". You are always expected to do whatsoever this is good you can do to help others.
3. Honesty - You have to care enough to lovingly speak the truth, even when you would rather makes the true nature of the problem or ignore the issue. Many folks have no one in their lives who love them enough to tell them the truth (even when its painful) so they continue in a self-destructive ways. We have to speak the truth with love. We remain superficial to avoid conflict, forgetting that a little conflict that is resolved today is better than having a bigger problem tomorrow. When conflict are handled correctly, we grow closer to each other. Until you care enough to confront and resolve the underlying issue, you will never grow close to each other, although "frankness is not a license to rudeness". "Thoughtless words leave lasting wound".
4. Humility - Self-importance, stubborn pride destroys relationships faster than anything else. "Pride builds wall between people, humility is like the oil that smooths relationships". "Clothe yourself with with humility towards one another". Pride blocks God's grace. "Anytime one is filled with pride, they are living in opposition to God, and that is foolish and dangerous way to live". Noting how much God hates pride, should serve as a template, why it shouldn't be found in us. "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less".
5. Courtesy - This is respecting our differences and being patient with people. Their are always some folks with special emotional needs, deep insecurity, irritating mannerisms or poor social skills, but these people are in our midst for both their benefits and ours. We just have to carefully harness their good traits and help them grow on their weak sides. The truth is we all have our quirks and annoying traits. One key to courtesy is to understand where people are coming from. Discover their history. "Healthy relationships happen when people know it is safe enough to share their doubts without being judged".
6. Frequency - "Relationship takes time". You must have frequent, regular contact to build a genuine relationship. We are to develop a habit of communicating frequently, not something you do occasionally. "Genuine relationships are not built on convenience, but commitment". It will require meeting and communicating, even when you don't feel like, but because it is important. "Healthy relationship requires an investment of time".
7. Forgiveness - The most important of them all. Relationship is a place of grace, healthy ones occur when "mercy wins over justice". We can see this in our relationship with God. You can't have a healthy relationship without forgiveness. "Never hold grudges", because bitterness and resentments always destroy relationships. We inevitably hurt each other when we are together for a long enough time, but it takes so much forgiveness to maintain a relationship. Whenever you are hurt by someone, you have a choice to either go for retaliation or resolution, you can't do both. Many people are reluctant to show mercy because they don't understand the difference between trust and forgiveness. "Forgiveness is letting go of the past, trust has to do with the future". "Forgiveness must be immediately, trust must be rebuilt over time".
These tips I have shared have helped me personally in great ways and I am certain they'll help anyone who sticks to them. "Most importantly, our hearts must be filled with the Love of God, because without that, we can't love or relate properly/freely with people". "You were built for relationships".
PS: Please, if there are some other tips I didn't capture, it's certain I don't know it all, do well to share them in the comment area and if there was any I mis-explained, do well to correct me kindly. It will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading.
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