There is a certain level of intention that goes into any good relationship. It’s not enough to just say, “Hey, let’s be friends” and then expect everything to always be perfect. These relationships require continuous effort on both ends and a willingness to keep working at it through the highs and lows.
Ziad K. Abdelnour said, “As you grow older, you realize it becomes less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones.” Becoming more intentional with your relationships means intentionally choosing the right people to enter into them with. Here are our tips on creating relationships of all kinds that will last.
Be authentic.
Authenticity is the most important ingredient to any great relationship. Anyone worth hanging out with, whether romantically or otherwise, won’t ask you to be anything but yourself. If you tend to be someone who follows the crowd rather than voicing your own opinions or doing what you want to do, here are a few tips that might help you:
- Get into the habit of doing something that scares you each day.
- Speak your mind in kindness and love, seeking to understand.
- Work on improving one area of your life daily.
- Follow your intuition.
- Tell the truth.
It can be tough to show someone who you are without fear of judgment, so give yourself time as you work on being your true, authentic self around others. You’ll likely find that this alone leads to deeper, more meaningful relationships if you are willing to risk vulnerability.
Conversely, there are some major signs you can look for to spot the difference between people who are authentic in your life and those who aren’t. Read this article to learn more.
Make plans.
The world can be interesting. You think you know so much about someone’s life simply by following them on social media. However, this leads us to missing out on a vital piece of the puzzle: genuine human connection … in person. The part of them that actually exists outside of a picture, boomerang, or a post on TikTok™.
Creating lasting relationships means taking intentional time out of your schedule to be together and have face-to-face conversations. This is hard if you don’t live in the same zip code, but when you do have the opportunity to get together, make sure you take advantage of it. You could meet up for lunch, go for a hike, or a live phone call instead of texting. Spending time focusing on strengthening your bond will set you up for a relationship that lasts—no matter the type of relationship.
Show gratitude.
Appreciation goes a long way, especially when it comes to making and keeping relationships. It’s just as important to show your friends that they’re valued as it is to show your spouse. Luckily, appreciation isn’t hard to give out, and honestly, it’s kind of fun once you get the hang of it! Here are a few ways you can show appreciation in your relationships today:
- Treat them to dinner you have cooked or arranged.
- Write them a handwritten note.
- Give them flowers.
- Say it out loud with a compliment.
- Silence your phone and notifications and listen.
- Stop and just listen to them.
The best relationships will help you become the best version of yourself. They’ll also strongly influence other areas of your life, so be sure you’re nurturing them and giving them the attention they need to flourish.
Wondering if it’s worth it to enter a relationship with someone new? Read our blog post here on “Learning to Trust Your Intuition.”
