Nurturing Successful Relationships

To me relationships are all about mutual respect and care. It is about the freedom to communicate personal emotions with someone without the guilt or fear of being judged. While this may sound simple on the surface, it is not an easy task considering the age we live-in today.

Many a times, I have been asked the secret of my successful long-standing relationships with people across the spectrum. While I do not possess a ‘secret recipe’ or a ‘guide’ to managing relationships, I do follow certain principles that have helped me nurture long-term sustainable associations in my life.

In this blog, I have attempted to share some of these personal guiding philosophies that have benefited me immensely in cultivating successful personal & professional relationships, over the years.

Be Authentic & Truthful – Being authentic and truthful in a relationship is key to its success. Being open and transparent about your feelings and communicating this with empathy to the other person, can forge a strong and long lasting relationship

Respect Individual Perspectives – Understanding the perspective of the other person is important. Always put yourself in the situation of the other person and think before forming an opinion. I have never imposed my views on others and always believed in being flexible and providing room for accommodating the views of the other person.

It’s not always about listening or talking – Communication is not just about talking or listening. Sometimes, our body language too manifests our thoughts and feelings to the other person. It is important to be truthful in your relationships with people and provide honest feedback. Being diplomatic or untruthful will be communicated to the other person in some way or the other, sooner or later.

Offer Unconditional Support – Your support should be free from all kinds of pre-conditions. If you look for mutual benefits in relationships, it is bound to fail at some point in time. If your friend/s need help, offer them your support without any conditions.

Devote Time – Relationships are not always about tangibles. One needs to prioritize and devote time for loved ones. In spite of a hectic schedule, I always prioritize my time to ensure I devote time with people close to me.

Avoid Digital Relationships – Today, it has become common practise to send a whatsapp greeting to wish someone on their special days like birthdays, anniversaries etc or post a message on their facebook page. This increasing use of smartphones and social media has removed personal connect in our relationships. Personally, I avoid falling into this trap and make it a point to call my friends and relatives on their special days to wish them. I also try to send them a personalized note or gift them with a recent book that I have read. I believe it makes them feel special and creates sweet memories.

Be your true self – It is okay once in a while to hug someone you care for. It is also fine to shed a tear when you are down. Always be your true self amongst your friends and loved ones. It makes the other person reciprocate in a similar manner when they are happy or sad. Positive relationships radiate positive energy!

I think relationships have a ‘law of increasing returns’. Initially they require a lot of nurturing but after a few years, you start receiving more than your give.