Folks at Smith Mountain Lake are just like people everywhere in that they desire to have healthy relationships with their significant other. But like most things in life that matter, those relationships take hard work and lots of honest communication. We have to deeply invest in the lives of others and in learning how to meet their needs if we wish to be successful in love.
Here are 7 tips for keeping your relationships strong and healthy:
1. Take time to build trust. Don’t keep secrets and don’t avoid difficult subjects. Communicating openly and at length, if need be, will help work out the rough spots and make your relationship stronger than before.
2. Take time for intimate moments. Every relationship requires that special connection. Spend a few minutes each day looking into your loved one’s eyes and sharing personal details for their ears only. Then plan a special date just for the 2 of you once a week.
3. Keep your sense of humor intact. Share things that make you laugh. Not only does a sense of humor keep the rough spots from being destructive, but it also increases the bond between you when you have weathered the storm.
4. Work together. Plan to get jobs done when you can work on them together. Working as a team can be just as beneficial as laughter. Getting a job done and feeling you have shared in an accomplishment is a relationship strengthener.
5. Spend some time alone and bless each other’s individuality. It is important to continue to be who you are in a relationship while giving and bending for your mate. Don’t forget to take time for yourself and encourage each other’s individuality.
6. If you are married be sure to take time for just the 2 of you without the kids. In the busy rush of life, it is easy to lose track of the need for intimacy and time alone. Those who fail to put their relationships in top priority will find themselves without a relationship eventually.
7. Offer consistent reassurance and commitment. No relationship grows without good soil and water and fertilizer. Make certain your partner knows that you are in this for life and they can feel secure. Offer them regular communication time so that you can share life and bring reassurance of your love.
If these qualities are present and growing in your marriage, the relationship will not erode and become passionless and painful. Just remember that the key to all good relationships is to keep on talking. If you can communicate then you can work anything out.