The East Community Guide - Gainesville, FL The East July 2017 | Page 4

7 Ways to Keep Your Relationship Strong
Sometimes, relationships can be so stressful that you may want to pull your hair out. But you
have worked way too hard for that hair to be pulling it out! Not all relationships are meant to last,
but when you find the one, you will never want to come down from cloud nine.
1. Express your appreciation
It is always great to be appreciative in your
relationship. "It’s the little things that count."
Whether you give a simple thank you for a
small gesture or purchase your significant
other’s favorite thing just to see a smile on
their face, the more the merrier. "We all suffer
from appreciation deprivation, so when you
express appreciation to your significant other,
it shows them that you notice what they have
done for you and care enough to take the
time to thank them
2. Equally support each other
Even in a relationship, you may feel down sometimes. Your significant other should be
there to uplift you and remind you that your dreams are valid. You should support one
another so that you can stand alone and be strong enough when you aren’t there to
support each other. "It's important for a relationship to have an equal give and take,
not where one person is always needy of support and the other one is always giving it
"Support does not mean enablement." In fact it is the exact opposite. When a person
supports you, he or she advises you even if that means deterring you from a situation
that is potentially harmful." Sometimes you may not recognize how much your
significant other does for you, but it is good to be there for them through the good and
bad times. "Support plays a huge role in making your significant other happy. Whether
it’s motivating them to achieve their dreams or supporting their new and risky
endeavor, the way in which you support your significant other and the level of support
you provide can definitely affect your relationship.
3. Communicate well
You should be able to talk about just about anything with your significant other. You
should be straightforward with one another and not be afraid to be vulnerable and
share your feelings. "Communication is key, not only for everyday things, but
especially when there are bumps in the road of your relationship. "It's important to be
open about how you feel in order to clear up any misunderstandings." Communication
is possibly the hardest, yet most necessary aspect of a relationship. Without an open
line of communication, issues that start small will grow and create a life of their own.
"A person who is invested in you will listen intently and talk through the issue with you.
4. Accept criticism
When someone criticizes you, you may be quick to cut them off because you don’t
agree. When your relationship is solid and love is in the air, listening is always worth it.
"You have to be able to admit that you are not perfect and that sometimes your
partner is really right about things.” If you can accept criticism, you can move on to a
better relationship." We are constantly evolving into the people we are meant to be.
You may not want to alter an attitude or behavior sometimes, but if you do, you may
4
realize that you became a much better person from it.