Honesty is often emphasized as a foundational element in building and maintaining healthy relationships. However, finding the right balance between brutal honesty and loving honesty can be a delicate task. Brutal honesty can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings, but sugarcoating can lead to a lack of relationship authenticity. This article explores the fine line…
5 Types of Listening and How to Apply Them in Relationships
Listening is more than just hearing words. It involves actively paying attention to the speaker, processing the information, and understanding the underlying message. Unfortunately, good listeners are hard to come by today. Most people listen with the intent to reply, and not with the intent to understand and learn. By understanding these different types of…
Consistency in Relationships: The Missing Link to Lasting Love
Consistency in relationships means consistently showing up for your partner or friend, being reliable, and fulfilling your commitments. In today’s fast-paced world, where everything changes at lightning speed, consistency in relationships is diminishing in importance, and it’s become more challenging to find people who maintain a steady and predictable pattern of behavior. With these strategies…
Reciprocity in Relationships: Why We Need to Stop Chasing People Who Make No Effort
In any successful relationship, whether between friends, family, or romantic, there’s an underlying dynamic that plays a crucial role in its health and longevity – reciprocity. The simple act of giving and taking, of exchanging support, love, and kindness, forms the foundation of any solid relationship. Learn the delicate dance of reciprocity in relationships –…
Why You Gain More from Win-Win Situations in Relationships (and how to do it)
Entering a negotiation can be daunting, especially if you dislike confrontation or worry that your wants won’t align with the other person. The good news is that you can avoid that by creating win-win situations in your relationship. It does not have to be a zero-sum interaction where one person wins at the expense of…
5 Signs You’re Outgrowing a Friendship (and why it’s okay)
The bond that we share with friends is a special one. But unfortunately, not all of them last forever. Some friends evolve with you, while others go in a different direction. And that’s not in our control. If you feel that certain friendships may have run their course and you’re unsure if it’s possible to…
The Different Types of Attraction and How to Recognize Each One
We often associate the word attraction with someone’s physical appeal, but there’s far more to attraction than meets the eye. While all of us experience attraction, it can be tricky to understand. Just like there’s no single way to love, there is no single way to be attracted to someone. Knowing the different types of…
Types of Relationships: How to Choose Ones That Are Right For You
Relationships are the bedrock of life. Healthy and meaningful connections ground us. As we get older, it becomes harder to find and nurture them. Once we find a partner, they and our children come first, and other relationships become “nice-to-haves.” But there are plenty of opportunities to connect, and you don’t have to be limited…
The Halo Effect: How it Influences Our Relationships (and why it matters)
All of us judge people by their appearance. From hairstyle to posture, we look at everything to build a picture of them in our minds. By nature, we’re prone to taking people at face value. It’s convenient, and it’s an instinctive response to determine trustworthiness. First impressions count, but we must know that our judgments…
5 Types of Friends You Need (And Don’t Need) in Your Life
Friendships are essential for our wellbeing and bring out the best in us. Many of us have experienced the benefits of joyful connections, but we still struggle to find the right types of friends. Becoming aware of the blocks will clear the pathway to finding kindred spirits. Learn about the types of friends you need…