Individual guideline

Maintain and deepen your relationships with others

Positive relationships are among the most important contributors to our health and happiness. However, all relationships require care and attention to thrive.

  • Strive to develop a close circle of supportive people you can trust and count on.
  • Care for others by fostering mutually-beneficial, intimate, open, and trusting relationships.
  • Pay attention and be responsive to the social needs of others.
  • Learn and practice the social skills needed to navigate social challenges and maintain healthy relationships, including good communication, compassion, and boundary-setting.
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Rationale

Close relationships with others are the foundation of a healthy and fulfilling social life. Positive relationships enhance our wellbeing by providing emotional support, reducing stress, and fostering a strong sense of belonging and security. These close connections offer dependable sources of companionship, affection, and understanding, helping us navigate life’s challenges while enhancing our happiness. Rather than simply focusing on the quantity of our social interactions, it’s crucial to ensure our relationships are of high quality so that they can meet our emotional and social needs. Quality relationships are a key determinant of mental and physical health, promoting resilience, lowering risk of depression, and improving overall life satisfaction.

Building and maintaining a close relationship requires a thoughtful investment of care and attention. Relationships grow and thrive when we intentionally nurture them, actively assessing how connected we feel to others and whether we’re fostering a bond that promotes trust, understanding, and reciprocity. The development of social skills plays a crucial role here, as skills like active listening, empathy, and boundary-setting help us communicate openly, manage conflicts, and respond to the needs of others. Practicing compassion and openness fosters intimacy, allowing our relationships to deepen naturally over time. With effort, we can create environments within our relationships where everyone feels safe, valued, and supported.

Moreover, deepening our relationships often requires us to engage with the social needs of others. A healthy relationship is mutually beneficial and requires that we not only express our own needs but also recognize and respond to the needs of those we care about. Through empathy and responsiveness, we can create a balanced dynamic that supports both individuals, ensuring the relationship remains strong and nurturing. It’s also essential to recognize that the healthiest relationships involve a balance of give and take; we must be mindful of creating one-sided relationships, which can lead to stress and dissatisfaction. When both individuals invest in the relationship, it becomes a source of stability and support for both parties, reinforcing feelings of loyalty and trust.

At times, maintaining healthy relationships involves making difficult decisions about their future. Some relationships, despite best efforts, may not provide the mutual support and respect that promote wellbeing, and it can be beneficial to assess whether continued involvement is positive for both individuals. Navigating these decisions can be challenging, but by being thoughtful and considerate of both our needs and those of others, we can make choices that ultimately contribute to a more fulfilling social life. Relationships are among the most meaningful elements of life, and by consistently working to maintain and deepen them, we lay the groundwork for a supportive, resilient social network that contributes to our long-term happiness and health.

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Related Evidence Briefs

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Additional considerations

Creating and sharing experiences – by engaging in novel, interesting, and rewarding activities – is important for maintaining strong relationships. Engaging in activities together, whether simple or elaborate, helps to build common memories and strengthen bonds.

Shared experiences provide opportunities for fun and excitement and are important for keeping relationships dynamic and engaging. Trying new activities together, such as taking a dance class or exploring a new city, can introduce a sense of adventure and novelty into the relationship. These activities not only create positive memories but also help to reinforce the bond through shared joy and discovery.

However, creating shared experiences means you must be available and accessible. Prioritizing your availability and to others is important. By being reliable and making yourself available for shared experiences, you demonstrate your commitment to the relationship. For example, if a friend invites you to an event, making an effort to attend shows that you value their company and the relationship. Similarly, being accessible when someone needs support or wants to share something important reinforces the strength of your connection.

Creating shared experiences doesn’t have to be complex. Even simple tasks, such as sharing meals, whether at home, in a restaurant, or at a community event, can strengthen relationships by providing time for conversation and bonding over food. Similarly, inviting friends or family to join you for everyday tasks like grabbing a coffee, going shopping, or getting a haircut can turn mundane activities into valuable social interactions.

One strategy to ensure you are creating shared experiences is by creating routines. For instance, setting aside one night a week for a special date or a casual dinner with a friend ensures that you have dedicated time to reconnect and share experiences. This regularity helps to maintain a sense of closeness and continuity in the relationship.

Of course, sometimes it is important to break the routine and do special things together. Regularly planning date nights or dedicated times for social interaction provides opportunities to build memories together. Incorporating positive experiences and finding novel activities to share helps foster positive relationships. Celebrating together, whether it's a big event like a promotion or small victories like a successful week, fosters a sense of joy and unity. Laughing together over shared jokes or fun activities strengthens bonds and creates a reservoir of positive emotions to draw on during tougher times. For example, attending a comedy show or playing a fun game together can bring laughter and light-heartedness into the relationship, making it more resilient and enjoyable.

In selecting how you build memories and experiences with others, it’s important to be mindful of each other's preferences and boundaries when planning shared experiences. For instance, if one partner enjoys outdoor activities while the other prefers indoor pursuits, finding a balance that accommodates both interests is key. This shows respect for each other's likes and dislikes and helps to create experiences that are enjoyable for both parties. For example, alternating between going on hikes and having movie nights can ensure that both partners feel their preferences are valued.

Additional resources