Habits That Promote Healthy Relationships

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When life moves fast, things can slip through the cracks, and you may unintentionally begin to neglect important issues. It can be all too easy to become comfortable in your lifestyle and subconsciously develop the belief that the people in your life will stay there forever. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case for several reasons. Plants, animals, and humans all require a certain level of maintenance and care. While some may require more or less than others, it’s still important to pay attention to the important presences in your life.

From your spouse or romantic partner to your friends, it’s vital to nourish your relationships. With a little effort, you can adopt healthy habits whose practice can help keep your relationships alive and well for a long time. Knowing when to take the initiative by planning dates, knowing when to give space, and understanding the love languages of the people around you can go a long way.

Understanding the Love Languages of the People in Your Life

Have you ever bought a gift for someone to reconcile a disagreement but found it didn’t get the reaction you had hoped? Likely, you weren’t speaking to their particular love language. For specific internal reasons, all humans receive love differently. The way people receive love can result from childhood impressions or romantic experiences surrounding the affection that they did or did not receive.

While you might not always fully grasp the source or reasoning behind another person’s love language, putting in the work to understand as much as they’re comfortable sharing with you is a huge part of forming the vital trust of deep relationships. You don’t have to be in a romantic relationship to understand someone’s love languages; even platonic friendships benefit from this heightened degree of mutual acceptance.

The basic concept suggests five different love languages to look for when considering the people in your life:

  1. Words of affirmation entail verbal acknowledgments of affection. Telling them that you love and appreciate them can go a long way.
  2. Quality time entails spending time together with active listening and eye contact. The core of this form of love is giving your undivided attention to your loved one.
  3. Acts of service are actions you can take to show your loved one that you care. Picking up dinner, helping with a difficult task, or giving them a massage can all work for this love language.
  4. Gift-giving is a particularly common love language. In some cases, you may go days or even weeks without talking to them, and when you see them again, they will have a gift for you. For people with this love language, the idea of thinking about someone and getting a gift speaks volumes.
  5. Physical touch can include hugs, kisses, holding hands, or even taking naps together. Learning which of these options truly speaks to your loved one can work wonders for your relationship.

Knowing When to Give Space

Keeping your relationship healthy sometimes means doing things that are difficult for you. An essential part of keeping it all together is knowing when to take a step back. When you and a loved one get into an intense disagreement, you may be the sort of person who typically likes to keep it going until the issue is resolved. This method of problem-solving doesn’t work for everyone. Some people prefer to take a break to let their emotions cool down and come back to discuss it later.

Understanding the way your loved one perceives space can make the difference between a disagreement and an argument. Even outside of a disagreement, some people simply require less time spent with others. If you are at a party or get together, something as simple as knowing when the other person is ready to leave is a healthy habit.

Be Intentional with Your Attention

All the habits and methods that exist for keeping a relationship healthy have one thing in common: the overarching need to be intentional. Pay attention and take the initiative in your relationship with the person you love. Do they struggle with an anxiety disorder? Are they depressed? Do they have an addiction? These are important details to keep in mind when developing or maintaining a healthy relationship with your loved one.

Someone who is maneuvering through depression may make it seem like they don’t need you to be there for them. This is where intention comes in. As an important part of their support system, pay attention to the patterns in their behavior. Treating your loved ones based on what you know about them can create a healthy environment for the relationship.

 

Creating a healthy environment is pivotal in building a strong bond and support system for your relationships. Understanding the different love languages can help you decide on how to approach a loved one when they are in a time of need. You never know what people are going through in regards to mental health. When people are surrounded by healthy love and a strong support system, they can become more comfortable with the challenges life may throw at them. If you notice signs of depression, addiction, or anxiety in a loved one, you can help them get professional attention. The Kimberly Center in Ft. Myers, Florida, can help you and your loved ones overcome your obstacles and change your life. The Kimberly Center provides sober living options, continuing care, inpatient programs, and many more methods of treatment designed to help you on your journey. Contact us at (855) 452-3683 to learn more.

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