Ingredients of Healthy Relationships

By: Lindsey Bernhardt

As we embark on a month paying tribute to those who suffered generations of adversity and a month celebrating love, a foundational piece to both are healthy relationships. Healthy relationships are undoubtedly one of the most important pieces to living a well-balanced and happy life. Children and adults look to their relationships to determine if they are safe and loved, and only healthy ones survive the test. There are no secret ingredients to a healthy relationship, but there are components that certainly cannot be left out.

The first piece to a healthy relationship is empathy. Acknowledging how someone else is feeling and showing them, you understand is imperative to building rapport. Listening is another element that cannot be left out. Listening does not necessarily mean agreeing, it means that someone felt heard and that they were given your committed undivided attention. Collaborating and working together also aids in forming a healthy relationship. Rather than providing a solution that you feel is best, work together with your child, friend, partner or colleague and solve the problem together. It will increase mutual respect and help both parties gain trust. Time together is another important piece of the mix. I often hear parents tell me they are with their kid all the time so of course they have a good relationship. But time spent does not necessarily equal quality time. Insist on putting the devices away, have family meals together, do things one on one, and be sure the time is distraction free. Spend this month and future months celebrating one another, empathizing with those who have struggled, understanding different perspectives, and loving one another.