Have a Rock-Solid Relationship

Over the past week, the majority of people in a relationship celebrated Valentine’s Day and took the opportunity to show affection for their partner in one way or another.  That’s great, but why wait until Valentine’s Day to show appreciation and make a special effort to recognize your bond?  Why not work on strengthening your relationship every day?

 

Relationship Check-In

Think about it: when was the last time you checked in with your significant other?  If you can’t recall, then it’s probably time for you to have a sit-down together.  Relationships need nurturing, so talking with your partner to see how things are going should be a normal practice in your relationship.

Rather than thinking of this sit-down as a time for conflict and confrontation, think of it as a time for reflection and contemplation.  Show genuine concern for learning how you can do better and be more to and for another.

Grow Together

If you’re reading this, you’re one of those people that focuses on self improvement and seeks out ways to learn and grow.  Oftentimes, when one person in a relationship is working to make positive changes, if his or her partner isn’t included on this journey, the couple can grow apart.  Instead, grow TOGETHER and continually do the work necessary to make your bond stronger.

Strong relationships don’t happen by accident – they take work.  Actually, they take a lot more work than most people think.  Do little things each day to show appreciation for one another (rather than waiting until Valentine’s Day rolls around each year), and you can form a rock-solid bond over time.

3 Simple Strategies for a Rock-Solid Relationship

 1 – Express Gratitude Every Day

Expressing your sincere gratitude for your partner every day could be one of the most impactful things you can do for your relationship.  We all want to feel needed. Be sure to express thanks for any small gesture your significant other makes in helping you out or making you feel special.

2 – Make Daily, Quick Connections

The key to improving communication in your relationship doesn’t necessarily have to be having long talks about your feelings.  In fact, you can improve your communication without even talking about it by making a quick connection with your partner every day.

For instance, you could make a quick connection by:

• Leaving a handwritten sticky note where you know your partner will see it
• Sending a brief text message asking how their day is going
• Leaving a voicemail letting them know you were thinking of them
• Giving them a surprise hug

Quick connections show your partner that you’re thinking of them, make them feel important, and strengthen your bond.

3 – Share the Same Path

If you’re walking down separate paths, how can you expect to stay together?  The quality of your relationship is enhanced by the quantity of time you spend together, so take extra steps to do more things together.

Take part in one another’s hobbies or find a hobby that you both enjoy.  The more time you spend together, and the more activities you share, the closer you will be.

For more on Relationship Makeovers and balancing your life, check out PUSH.