Love, family and relationships bind our lives together. They’re matter so very greatly, that if any one of these breaks apart, our lives turns into turbulence mode until it is resolved. Therefore, maintaining relationships is so important for a happy and healthy life. Ever been or seen a toxic relationship that drains every bit of your energy out? There is no point enduring a relationship if it impacts your ability to thrive at work and in life. Instead, invest in a relationship that has these key values, whether it is with your family, friends, life partners or even co-workers.
1. Trust
Great relationships are built on the foundation of trust. It’s so fragile that once broken, it’s almost impossible to patch it back. A trusting relationship takes time to build and seconds to break. You can count on each other’s trust when you feel safe, comfortable and open with each other. If you feel you can’t trust the party, it’s time to move on and find what’s best for you.
2. Openness
If you want to build a lasting relationship, being open with one another is fundamental. Both parties need to be willing to hear and express openly without being judged. You should be comfortable discussing any topics without awkward present. When you engage in honest and respectful conversation, you are building genuine connection with each other. Once at that point, you know there’s nothing stopping you from being yourself. When issues and problems arise, you know you can share and trust on your partner for emotional support.
3. Respect
We are all uniquely crafted individuals with difference of opinions, views and attitude. In building a great relationship, respecting one another is as important as trust. If you do not respect the other, there’s no point being in a relationship because it takes two hands to clap. Too often we land in a relationship hoping to reshape it later on or change the person along the way. That’s the mistake everyone fails to understand that you’re accepting the other person as they are. If you do not respect the other for who they are, you are only leading yourself to frustrations and disappointments.
4. Teamwork
It takes two to tango, and so does a healthy relationship. You both have to be able to equally contribute to make the relationship thrive. You make decisions and plans together, while incorporating each other’s preferences. You both bring ideas and opinions to the table while being open minded with one another’s point of view. You work with mutual trust and respect to achieve what you each need.
