There are times in our lives that we wouldn’t get through easily without good relationships with other people. In order to be truly successful in more than one area of life, there will always be times when we lean on others—that’s part of any healthy relationship.. But how many relationships do we have that really foster that type of trust and reliance? While many of us have acquaintances, we may lack in the area of close friendships, which can create a void in our lives. People need close, caring relationships with others to be the best version of themselves—this truly gives us more power in life situations where we need support, and we all need someone to fall back on every now and again.
“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” – Margaret Mead
In today’s world, deep and meaningful relationships are increasingly difficult to come by. How do we build lasting relationships with others?
To be truly present for others requires a deeper level of listening and understanding. Your first priority is to show others that they are important to you, so truly listening with the intent to understand and accept them is the key to a foundation of trust.
Here’s a few tips to show others that you care about them:
When you engage in conversation with your acquaintances, consider adding these actions:
1. Make eye contact and listen to understand, not just to speak.
2. Ask questions to clarify their point of view, and to help you understand them.
3. Ask them how they are feeling.
4. Be affirming.
5. ACCEPT them. This doesn’t mean you have to agree with them or approve of them, but accepting others as they are is essential to creating a good relationship.