How Do You Build a Strong Relationship?

While maintaining healthy relationships is easy for some, that's not often the case for everyone. Some have unhealthy relationships with the people in their lives whether it's their spouse, parents, kids, or co-workers. To ensure these relationship woes don't take root, one needs to work proactively to make things better with the parties involved. For instance, if you're in the thick of a troubled marriage, you may want to consider asking advice for couples on Relationship Scope. You've got to start somewhere, and that should set you off on a good note. As the issue at hand, how does one begin building a healthy relationship that lasts? Note that building a relationship is a two-way street. Strong relationships will require the work of not just one but two parties willing to make their partnership last. A lasting, healthy relationship requires time, effort, and enduring commitment from those involved. Should you find this not being the case with your relationships, here are some things you can try doing to shift the dynamic:

1. Express Appreciation

Early on in a relationship, couples may shower each other with affectionate words and actions they may eventually take for granted. Blasé reactions can discourage a partner from showing gestures of love and care, taking away from the doting interactions that used to profuse the union. This loss is what often leads most couples to fall out of love. A couple's appreciation for everything they do for each other, including the little things, can go a long way in strengthening the relationship. Show your partner that any effort to make you happy, even if it fails, is very much appreciated. At the end of the day, it's not always about making the other person happy anyway. Sometimes, it's about being there for someone as they work through their own issues.

2. Build a Relationship on Trust

Mutual trust is what brings meaning to any relationship. If you don't trust a relative, partner, or friend completely, your relationship isn't likely to amount to anything lasting. These are the types of relationships that don't triumph through rough patches and typically end in fall-outs. In contrast, a relationship built on trust and understanding can weather many storms. That's because it operates on the fact that both parties know they'll be there for each other no matter what. Remember, trust can take years to build but only moments to destroy, so don't take it for granted.

3. Communicate Healthily

Poor communication, or lack of communication, often becomes the downfall of many a relationship. The abundance of obstacles in friendships, romantic partnerships, and familial relationships requires constant and healthy communication between both parties. If something is bothering you, don't sweep it under the rug; instead, calmly make it known to the other party. In the same way, you must also make known your willingness to listen to whatever issues they may have with you. A relationship in which members communicate openly and honestly is equipped to address problems more promptly. In fact, it can even keep things from becoming problems in the first place.

4. Commit to Your Relationship

Being in a romantic relationship means sharing yourself and your life with another person. There's really no way around that. Only when you are willing to pour your heart and soul into a relationship can you expect your partner to do the same. You must allocate the time, energy, and resources to making the relationship work. You need to have the willingness to be loyal and stand by the other person, choosing them time and time again despite the circumstances.

5. Always Make Time for Each Other

No matter how busy your schedules get, don't ever forget to pencil in regular date nights. Spending quality time with your partner shows them that they are still at the top of your priority list. Make time to do fun and interesting things together to keep the fire burning. If things get boring, try something new. Show your willingness to make things work so that your partner does the same for the relationship. This is true for friendships and other types of relationships. You have to make time. With the challenges of a hectic life, making time for your loved ones shows how much you truly care and want to preserve the relationship.

6. Be Supportive of Each Other's Growth

When your partner does well in their career, cheer them on. It's important for couples to push each other forward, not just in their respective careers but also when it comes to personal fulfillment. Your loved one needs to know that whatever they choose, you will be there for them every step of the way.

At the end of the day, a strong and healthy relationship is founded on mutual respect. Regardless of differences in beliefs and principles, respect is the driving force that creates a loving relationship. It's what makes people love each other even when they disagree, and it's what renders the argument of who's right or wrong inconsequential.