Relationships…
Relationships take effort, but the rewards are well worth it.
Relationships give us the support we need when we’re down and they provide us with the opportunity to laugh. together and share life experiences. In times of grief or illness relationships can be a tremendous blessing and comfort, but to build strong relationships it all starts with you being willing to give of yourself, first.
Focus on the People You Care About,
and Those You Love.
When others see you are interested in what they are interested in and what is going on with their lives, they naturally will open up to you. That leads to the possibility of establishing a good, strong friendship. Going further if you participate in the activities they enjoy and show a sincere interest in their hobbies or career, it’s possible an a deeper, meaningful relationship will develop.
How to Get Closer in Family Relationships
Getting closer means different things to different people. Some people actually move closer geographically in order to be closer to their families. Others who must or want to live further away can take advantage of zoom or facetime, voice-only calls on the phone, emails, text messages, and social media engagement in order to bridge the distance.
When it comes to improving personal relationships, you must be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. Many people are naturally shy–take the risk and simply step up to someone, and introduce yourself, it is one of the best ways to build new relationships. Remember you are helping them to meet new people, too… YOU!
Consider making distant or casual relationships even closer using the following suggestions.
1. How can you assist them? What knowledge, introduction, skill, or talent do you have, they might need?
2. If it is a true relationship–it’s a two-way street… what might they offer to assist you in your life or career?
3. Find common ground–read the tea leaves and if you agree, express your thoughts, opinions, and values. When you find like-minded people relationships easily click.
4. Eliminate negativity from your relationships. Regardless if it is business or personal, stay positive. Consciously build a give-and-take situation, which is the foundation for an excellent relationship.
5. Letting others know you care about them. Other people appreciate hearing they’re appreciated. and they are important to you. As often as you can, tell them how much their support and friendship mean to you, and remember, actions speak louder than words.
6. With family, spending time with them sends the best message. It is a very simple, but positive message… nothing shows you care more than an investment of your time. Good relationships are all about giving and receiving, and if you share time and experiences with others your reward will be an enjoyable and fulfilled life.
If you want a business or personal relationship to be closer, changing that status quo will take time and patience. To get more–you must invest more (of your time and energy) into the relationship. Chose judiciously which relationships you want to work on first–concentrating on those who mean the most to you.
“Make new friends and keep the old… one is silver and the other gold.” That childhood song still rings true. There is no time like the present to improve relationships! Take the time to forge new personal and business relationships, while strengthening the ones you have.
Go for it! You’ve got this.
