10 Ways to Create a More Fulfilling Relationship

Relationships are one of the most, if not the most, important parts of life. Developing, maintaining and working on those crucial relationships—especially the relationship with your partner—should be a lifelong endeavor. They affect your happiness, stress levels and health. So what can you do to ensure you’re creating healthy relationships in your life? Quite a bit.

These tips are mainly focused on your connection with your partner, but many of them can apply to the other important relationships in your life.

Allow for personal space. This goes for all your relationships! Whether it’s your partner, roommate, friend, child or parent; be sure you’re giving your loved one—and yourself—the room to foster individuality.

Savor the moments. Don’t rush through things distractedly. Spend quality time together and remain present. Don’t sit there with your phone in your hand, put it away; this signals to the other person that you value them and the time you spend together.

Inspire and be inspired. Lift your partner up and motivate them when they need it. And look to your partner for inspiration as you work toward becoming the best version of yourself.

Appreciate the small stuff. Notice the little things your loved ones do for you—and thank them for it. When you practice gratitude regularly, you’ll be more likely to focus on the good instead of fixating on the bad.

Be their rock. We all go through tough times, and when your partner is experiencing a rough patch, your love and support can make a world of difference. Remember that people deal with things in different ways; ask your partner what he or she needs.

Let them be your rock. Sometimes our first instinct is to curl up in a ball and keep it all in, but it’s important you lean on your partner for support, just like you hope they’ll do when they need it. Hard times can bring you closer together and strengthen your relationship.

Keep things interesting. You’ll change again and again over your lifetime, and so will your partner, so keep things fresh by trying new activities and breaking out of your normal routine. Who knows when you’ll find something you both love to do—and your bond will strengthen because of it.

Be honest and open. We’ve all heard that trust is the bedrock of a relationship—and it’s true. One of the
best ways to maintain trust is by remaining open and honest with your partner. If you are struggling with telling your partner something you’ve held back, talk to someone, like a couple’s counselor, who can help you take steps to build trust.

Be responsible for your feelings. Many times people will look to another to provide them with happiness
and self-worth—but these should come from within. Yes, it’s important that you are treated well, but you should know how to achieve happiness on your own.

Be warm, kind and caring. This might seem obvious, but sometimes we can forget it—especially if we’ve been in a relationship for a long time. And it’s contagious, the more you spread these feelings around, the more likely they are to be reciprocated.