11 Tips for Building and Maintaining Good Relationships

Good relationships requires a foundation of acceptance, mutual respect, positive feelings, and trust. Humans are inherently social and cannot exist in isolation; individuals thrive on companionship during both joyous and challenging times. Some people may find themselves desiring new connections or seeking ways to deepen existing ones without knowing how. Let’s explore 11 techniques for building and maintaining relationships:

• Show empathy and have basic social courtesy:
  • This is the first essential step in initiating and nurturing relationships, especially with people you are not familiar with. It sets the tone for whether meaningful conversations can happen.
• Extend a helping hand willingly:
  • Be willing to help each other voluntarily.
• Embrace compassion without expecting reciprocity:
  • Do not expect things in return and be compassionate towards others.
• Be open to emotional support:
  • Recognise the value of accepting emotional support from friends without consistently declining it. Refusing help can sometimes outweigh the benefits.
• Consistency in actions within the relationship:
  • Perform regular actions within the relationship but be cautious not to pressure yourself too much. Flexibility is key when adjustments are necessary.
• Listen to your friend despite differing interests:
  • Navigate conversations by asking questions and reflecting on your friend’s thoughts, especially when interests diverge. Tactfully shift or conclude the topic as needed.
• Express positive feelings and gratitude regularly:
  • Regularly express positive feelings and gratitude at appropriate times.
• Handle dissatisfaction with careful expression:
  • Express discontent thoughtfully, avoiding overly aggressive language. It’s better to communicate dissatisfaction rather than acting inappropriately towards friends.
• Respect your friend’s readiness to talk about certain issues:
  • Acknowledge and respect your friend’s readiness (or lack thereof) to discuss certain topics. Provide space and convey openness for them to approach you when ready.
• Don’t linger on disappointment if a friend seems uninterested:
  • If someone doesn’t seem interested, don’t dwell on disappointment for too long. There are other friends whom you might get along with.
• Mindful interaction, apologize promptly for mistakes:
  • Do not excessively tease, and if a mistake is made, apologize promptly and refrain from repeating it.

Despite these techniques, relationships remain uncertain, and predicting outcomes can be challenging. If you are concerned about your ability to implement these techniques, consider seeking advice from a counselor, psychologist, or therapist to provide tailored advice and skill-building support.