Search
Related Links

 

 

Informative Articles

"Divorce and Children: Things To Consider When You're Staying Married Only For Your Children"
All children are different and respond differently to divorce. Depending on the characteristics of the children - age, emotional maturity, happiness, resiliency to trauma - the easier or more difficult it will be for children to weather a divorce. ...

Enhance Relationships at home and at Work: 5 Steps to Becoming an Excellent Listener
“Nature has given to men one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.” Epictetus, Greek Philosopher How well we listen determines the quality of our connections with others whether at home or work. Yet, most...

Good Boundaries - Great Relationships
Husband and wife release their book on relationships! Chicago Husband and Wife Authors DARE Single, Dating, and Married Men & Women, To Continue Their Everyday Relationships the Same Way After Reading Their New Book Good Boundaries - Great...

Relationships and Life?s Lessons
Relationships and Life?s Lessons Robert Elias Najemy When we do not get what we want from our relationships, we often feel hurt, abused, rejected, disappointed, bitter and angry. We then have a choice to remain in our negativity or seek to...

ROMANCE 101—How to turn Your Relationship into a Great Romance!
OK...Let's talk about romance! The #1 most important thing you need to turn your relationship into a great romance is DESIRE. You have to WANT great romance in your life. Well, who wouldn't want that? But it won't just happen...it will take...

 
7 Keys to Better Relationships

Would you like to enhance the quality of your life and increase your personal happiness? If you answered "yes," the information in this article could change your life!

Isn't it easy to get stuck in the everydayness of life? We can get so busy making a living and getting ahead financially that the really important things fall through the cracks!

That can happen to all of us. However, when people come to the end of their lives, they don't wish they had spent more time making money. When all is said and done, we want our family and friends to be with us then!

So let's try to focus on developing better relationships instead of acquiring more things. Think of your circle of family and friends as a lovely garden to water and cultivate. The book of Proverbs teaches this crucial truth: "A man that has friends must show himself friendly" (Proverbs 18:24).

Here are 7 keys that will help your relationships to bloom:

1. Spend time with your friends and loved ones.

Although this is obvious, we need to intentionally set aside time in our schedules for them no matter how busy we think we are. Put appointments with friends and family into your daytimer or palm pilot. If you don't do this, you may forget and months and even years can go by without seeing these special people. The sad fact is that those relationships can dry up and wither away from neglect.

Many marriages fail for just this reason. People are often too busy to spend enough time with each other and one or both of the partners can't take the neglect. If you want your relationships to bloom, you have to water them with quality time. How long would a rose garden be lush and beautiful if no one watered it for days without end?

2. Genuinely appreciate the special people in your life.

Tell them how much they mean to you. Mention their good qualities and how special they are. For example, if you need to correct your children's behavior, be sure to spend twice as much time appreciating their positive qualities than reprimanding their negative ones.

3. Learn to say, "I was wrong. Please forgive me."

This will do wonders for your relationships. Humility is a beautiful quality in any person. Someone who thinks he or she is always right can be impossible to live with. If your habitual attitute is "I'm ALWAYS right," that's a poisonous plant that will spread and ruin your entire garden. Apologizing and asking for forgiveness when we've done something wrong does not degrade us. Instead it shows that we are growing up.

4. Be quick to forgive and don't hold grudges.

Bury the past. Bitterness never helped anyone. It only hurts the bitter person. Don't let the agressive weeds of unforgiveness spoil your garden. Try not to crush tender relationship plants by being harsh and unforgiving.

5. Learn to say "thank you" a lot.


Everyone loves to be appreciated for what he or she has done instead of being taken for granted. You may be thrilled by the vibrant blossoms of encouragement that will result from taking time to say "thank you."

6. Listen more than you talk.

In a game of tennis it would be very strange for one of the players to bounce the ball up and down on his or her side instead of hitting the ball back to the other player. The same could be said for the game of ping pong. These games teach a powerful lesson. If you are always talking and other people don't have a chance to get a word in edgewise, you won't be very popular for long.

7. Go out of your way to help others in practical ways.

If a friend is in the hospital, go visit him. If a neighbor is going through a difficult financial time, bring groceries over to help tide him or her through the crisis.

If you follow these simple but powerful suggestions for nurturing your relationships, you yourself will also reap benefits in the form of increased happiness, pep and vitality. That's because our relationships are far more important to our wellbeing than how much money we make or how well we're doing climbing the corporate ladder.

Why not take a personal inventory of your life today? Put these suggestions into practice and become more effective in cultivating your special relationships.

Happy gardening!

(c) copyright 2004 by Patricia Wagner

Publishing Guidelines: Feel free to use this article in your newsletter or on your website as long as the author's resource box, bylines and copyright are included. Please make sure links within article and bylines are live and clickable. To request an HTML version - just send an email to wagner.art@verizon.net. If you use this article, please send a brief message stating where it appeared. A courtesy copy would also be appreciated. THANKS.

About the Author

Patricia Wagner offers informative tips on living a more energetic lifestyle at http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com and through her free "A to Z Health Tips" newsletter. Subscribe at http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com/subscribe.htm. Contact Patricia at wagner.art@verizon.net

Author Photo: http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com/Images/PWagner.jpg

Receive new articles: http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com/article-updates.htm

Other Available Articles by Patricia Wagner http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com/wagner-articles.htm


 

Relationships: Practical advice, information and friendly support ...
Information, answers, tips, advice and friendly support on everything to do with dating, relating, marriage, love and friendship issues.
www.ivillage.co.uk
 
Relationships Australia — Building stronger relationships which ...
Non-profit community based organisation providing professional services to support relationships.
www.relationships.com.au
 
BBC - Relationships
Getting the most out of your sexual relationships (Image: Couple kissing) ... Subscribe to our monthly BBC Health and Relationships newsletter ...
www.bbc.co.uk
 
Love & Sex: Love Advice for Singles and Couples at iVillage.com
Find love advice for any relationship, including dating etiquette and sex tips at ... Hot Topics & Real Advice · Experts · Singles & Dating · Relationship ...
love.ivillage.com
 
Go Ask Alice!: Relationships
relationship stuff. Healthy vs. unhealthy relationships · "True love"... Could it be true? ... Parents don't approve of interracial relationship ...
www.goaskalice.columbia.edu
 
Relationship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Look up relationship in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Relationship may refer to: ... Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relationship" ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Interpersonal relationship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Interpersonal relationships are social associations, connections, ... This type of interpersonal relationship also includes the comradeship of fellow ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
About - People & Relationships
About People & Relationships provides advice for every stage of your relationship from dating to marriage. And, when relationships hit the skids, ...
about.com
 
Relationships.com - Online Personals and Christian Dating for ...
Christian singles site for online Christian personals. Relationships.com is the leading site for Christian dating. Enjoy our chat, IM, photo galleries, ...
www.relationships.com
 
Teen Relationships Website!
Relationship chat and information for teens, by teens.
www.teenrelationships.org
 
Sex, Love and Relationships [HOME] - ChristianAnswers.Net
Learn how to make your love the best it can be. Christian answers to questions about sex, marriage, sexual addictions, and more.
www.christiananswers.net
 
Relationshipweb.com - First aid for relationships
Directory of relationship information. Contains links and forums.
www.relationshipweb.com
 
SCRS - Virtual Pamphlet Collection - Relationships
University of Texas at Austin; Keys to a Successful Marriage - University of Wisconsin -- Eau Claire; Making Friends - Massey University; On Relationships ...
counseling.uchicago.edu
 
Abusive Relationships
Abuse - physical, emotional, or sexual - has no place in love. Read this article to find out how to recognize the signs of abuse in yourself or a friend and ...
www.kidshealth.org
 
Relationship Advice Site Featuring Relationship Book Im Sorry
A relationship repair guide featuring forum, free ecards, postcards, and books.
www.relationshiprepair.net
 
Today: Relationships - MSNBC.com
Looking for love or having trouble in your relationship? "Today" contributor Dr. Gail Saltz offers help. In her weekly column she tackles some of the ...
www.msnbc.msn.com
 
Addictive Relationships--UIUC Counseling Center
It is often very hard to end a love relationship even when you know it is bad for you. ... It is in this sense that the relationships are "addictive." ...
www.couns.uiuc.edu
 
Relationships: See what people are saying right now on Technorati
See all blog posts tagged with relationships on Technorati.
www.technorati.com
 
Relationships in the Yahoo! Directory
Read articles on friendship, romance, dating, and marriage as well as incest, affairs, and divorce. Also take relationship quizzes and discover kissing ...
dir.yahoo.com
 
Relationships -- Beliefnet.com
Our relationships expert's "essential message" is that life is a journey to integrate the deep soul with the higher spirit. ...
www.beliefnet.com
 
 

 

Content Menu
  • 10 crucial and surprising steps to build trust in a relationship

  • 10 fatal traps you must avoid to maintain a harmonious and healthy relationship

  • 10 red flags in dating relationships

  • 10 simple relationship resolutions tips

  • 10 steps to a dynamic relationship

  • 10 strategies to transform your relationship with overwhelm

  • 10 tips for a happy relationship

  • 13 ways to spend time with your teenage daughter

  • 22 fun things to do with your dozen rose gift

  • 3 major divorce parenting mistakes and learn how to avoid them

  • 3 proven strategies to a healthy and happy relationship

  • 50 secrets of a blissful relationship review

  • 5 sexual myths destructive to your relationship

  • 5 ways to deal with adhd

  • 6 tips to maintaining a healthy relationship

  • 7 good reasons to have your cat spayed or neutered

  • 7 keys to better relationships

  • 7 myths about creating a better relationship

  • 7 power skills that build strong relationships

  • 7 ways to improve your relationship

  • 8 ways to improve your long distance relationship

  • acceptance the answer to your relationships

  • add adhd children being your childs best friend

  • add trust to your relationship

  • advising on the best help with reference to relationship advice

  • all about love what is a healthy relationship

  • american women really dont like you

  • anniversary blues

  • an introduction to relationships

  • are money conflicts ruining your relationship

  • are you listening to your cat talking

  • are you ready or not for a relationship

  • are you relationship ready

  • are you too critical

  • are you truly thankful for everything

  • arguments in our relationships how to resolve them

  • arguments the losing side of a relationship

  • aromatherapy a scent away for great relationships

  • at home mommy entry level

  • awesome dads top ten communication intentions

  • a guide to relationship quizzes

  • a kernel of truth about relationships 5 steps to improvement

  • a look at interracial relationships

  • a loving relationship is good for your health

  • a trail of tears and broken relationships maybe symptomatic of depression

  • back to school feng shui

  • bad or good college relationships control and define your social behavior around the campus

  • beating middle of the night stress

  • book review christmas in dairyland

  • book review karmic relationships

  • book review the male gift giving survival guide

  • breastfeeding 101 nursing basics for new moms

  • bringing out the best in your relationship

  • building a good relationship

  • building bridges by connecting enrich relationships in life and business

  • building the bond in your relationship

  • bully victims need a healthy relationship with an adult

  • can cats and dogs live together as friends

  • can this relationship be helped

  • cheekybrats mothers

  • childhood friendships

  • child support 5 key things every parent should know

  • choosing the right gift

  • choosing your divorce method

  • clutters side effects how the state of your home affects your life

  • codependent relationships takers and caretakers

  • common relationship problems

  • communication key to a good roommate relationship

  • coping with your abuser

  • couple relationship

  • create and maintain a conscious love relationship

  • create the relationships youve always wanted

  • creating conscious relationships

  • creating relationship synergy through rapport building

  • cut cupid some slack

  • dating tips for ending a relationship

  • deadly relationship habits

  • deciding on divorce how to know you are making the right choice

  • defending your relationship

  • demystifying gift cards

  • divorce advice getting divorce advice from the right source

  • divorce and children things to consider when youre staying married only for your children

  • divorce decision things to consider when making a decision about divorce

  • does your sexless marriage have you thinking about divorce

  • dogs kids happy together

  • dog training reinforcing the dog owner relationship

  • dont ignore the signs how emotional infidelity can ruin your relationship

  • dont let a home business cost you your family

  • dos and donts of relationship

  • do you have a vision

  • do you really want a relationship

  • ending relationships with honor

  • enhance relationships at home and at work 5 steps to becoming an excellent listener

  • ericksons theory of human development

  • everything i know about relationship success i learned at the playground

  • extramarital affair should you get a divorce just because one of you had an extramarital affair

  • family law

  • family matters

  • family ties when to let go

  • fear of commitment in relationships

  • finding out your child has a disability its not the end of the world

  • five ways to sharpen your sense of humor and improve your relationships

  • flirting for a long term relationship

  • gaining a childs trust

  • getting more from dating romantic relationships and marriage

  • getting past the arguments an article on resolving conflict in relationships

  • getting the most from a romantic relationship

  • get out of jail free stop being defensive

  • gift giving during thanksgiving adds that special touch

  • give and take recipe for success in marriage

  • good boundaries great relationships

  • great relationship problem solving technique

  • halloween safety tips

  • happy relationships

  • happy relationships change your appearance

  • happy relationships discuss your pet peeves

  • happy relationships give 100

  • happy relationships schedule some fun time

  • happy relationships set regular dates

  • happy relationships share your days activities

  • happy relationships spend quiet time together

  • have you lost your mind

  • healthy relationships create a healthy life

  • help your child do better in school

  • hidden divorce costs

  • home for the holidays ask yourself some questions

  • how do we know when a relationship has a future

  • how do you know when a relationship has a future

  • how optimism can help or hurt your marriage

  • how to add romance to your relationship

  • how to avoid an obsessive or abusive relationship

  • how to create an emotional bond with your child

  • how to decide whether to keep your marriage or other relationship going or to end it

  • how to find relationship advice

  • how to focus on the positive qualities of your relationship

  • how to get an a on your relationship report card

  • how to get the chemistry in your relationship back

  • how to grieve a tragedy

  • how to have better relationships with men

  • how to identify what the question should i get a divorce means to you

  • how to keep love alive in your marriage

  • how to make a relationship work

  • how to put the sizzle back in your relationship with these seven goal setting tools

  • how to solve relationship problems

  • how to stop divorce parental conflict from bursting

  • how to survive a long distance relationship

  • how to survive long distance relationships

  • how to use humor to improve your relationships

  • how to while away a winter sunday afternoon with the kids teach a little eq at the same time

  • if you love me

  • if you want a friend get a dog

  • improve your sexual relationship

  • improving the odds for an online relationship

  • im sorry blame game or accountability

  • increase acknowledgment for more ease in your relationships

  • index

  • is honesty always the best policy when it comes to relationships

  • is she cheating many unsuspecting husbands find out too late

  • its a great relationship but is it time to break up

  • it pays for single christians to date other like minded people

  • jammin with your kids the wonderful world of music

  • kick start your mentor program and stop the bullies

  • late night adventures with your children

  • learn how to bank like a banker

  • learn to listen three ways it benefits relationships

  • long distance relationships 101

  • long distance relationships how to make it work

  • long distance relationships not always a bad thing

  • long lasting love relationships

  • losing relationships

  • loveless marriage does living in a loveless marriage necessarily mean that you should get a divorce

  • love discrimination

  • love marriage and money

  • love relationships focusing on what went right

  • love relationships with people from other cultures or countries

  • maintaining relationship real issue

  • make time for your relationship

  • making the grade

  • making your relationship work

  • managing the pain of abusive relationships

  • marriages may end but families are forever

  • marriage problem is your marriage problem severe enough to warrant getting a divorce

  • more than i can bear

  • more than mom and dad

  • moving on to much better things after leaving an abusive relationship

  • my relationship am i being naughty or nice

  • my secret formula for a healthy relationship

  • no problem

  • parasitic relationship

  • photography 101 part 1

  • picking up the pieces

  • potty training after a divorce or separation

  • preteen relationships

  • principalship leading change in schools

  • pros and cons of online relationships

  • rasing a violent free teen in 10 easy steps

  • reasons for divorce what constitutes viable reasons for thinking about or wanting a divorce

  • recognizing unhealthy relationships

  • rediscovering love and intimacy

  • regain the romance and sparkle in your relationship

  • relationships

  • relationships and life s lessons

  • relationships are the glue that holds the world together

  • relationships taking care of yourself in the moment

  • relationships the glue holding the world together

  • relationships the secret ingredient for better health

  • relationships too easy to leave

  • relationships with abusive narcissists part i

  • relationships with abusive narcissists part ii

  • relationships your avenue to success

  • relationship advice 9 reasons to make your relationship great right now

  • relationship advice first date sex should you

  • relationship advice ive met mr right do you think hes the one

  • relationship advice top 2 secret ways to become irresistibly magnetic to your wife in less than 72 hours

  • relationship advice wash that bad man out of your hair

  • relationship basic 3 connecting mind body spirit

  • relationship crisis 6 reasons to get physically fit

  • relationship deal breakers

  • relationship forever

  • relationship lost its spark

  • relationship quiz copasetic caution or conundrum

  • relationship reality

  • relationship ten strategies to improve your relationship

  • relationship tests galore how good are they which one is for me

  • relationship tips 16 practical dramatic ways to know if he she is really changing

  • releasing relationship pain

  • responding to criticism without being defensive

  • role models for your teen

  • romance 101how to turn your relationship into a great romance

  • romance 101 8212 how to turn your relationship into a great romance

  • romantic relationships an internal process

  • romantic relationships a spiritual perspective

  • rotator

  • safe relationship spaces

  • save your relationship and your sanity

  • secrets of kitty body language

  • secrets to a stress free holiday

  • seven steps to building a resilient relationship

  • sexless marriage does your sexless marriage have you thinking about divorce

  • sex and new relationships

  • sex lies affairs and relationships

  • should i end this relationship

  • should you forgive infidelity

  • so the thing is im feeling a little guilty

  • sparrow or peacock understanding your relationship with your stuff

  • spiritual relationships partnering through change

  • stop divorce should you try to stop your divorce if youre just thinking about getting a divorce

  • stop making unhappy relationship mistakes avoid another unhappy relationship

  • successful career rocky relationship

  • surviving divorce what to think about to ensure surviving divorce

  • s t o p a four step strategy for handling conflicts and healing your relationship

  • taking the true relationship test

  • teen relationships

  • ten benefits of having a relationship coach

  • ten signs of a serious relationship

  • ten ways to become your teenagers best friend

  • the 7 stages of a romantic relationship

  • the 7 stages of modern romantic relationships

  • the 7 stages of romantic relationships

  • the add child challenging parents teachers and friends

  • the breakdown of relationships and why they fail

  • the comedy clip relationship

  • the complex world of male female relationships

  • the economics of true love

  • the five relationship and dating mistakes

  • the fundamentals of a great marriage

  • the gifts we give our dogs

  • the informal normal in a black tie affair world

  • the magic of gift giving at christmas

  • the marriage test

  • the narcissist and his family

  • the parent teen relationship

  • the parent teen relationship and how to improve it

  • the powerful secret to a loving relationship

  • the privilege of resolving relationship conflict

  • the realities of your relationship

  • the rep

  • the science of mother love

  • the spirit of fathers day

  • the surge of the urge

  • the top 10 strategies for building a positive relationship with your teen

  • the trickiest gift on your shopping list

  • time management and how it affects your kids

  • top 10 amusing poolside antics reveal your relationship style

  • top 10 relationship secrets as learned from my twin 2 year olds

  • top ten list of what to do and what not to do in relationships

  • to end or not to end your relationship

  • to know you is to love you

  • to love or to be in love

  • trading spouses teaches relationship building through cooking

  • true love part 1

  • true romance for couples with kids 10 inexpensive ideas

  • trust starts with you

  • uncontested divorce how thinking about an uncontested divorce figures into your decision about divorce

  • understanding your teen relationship

  • unilateral disarmament the first step to improving communications with your teenager

  • victorias secret disclosed

  • want to feel better go stroke your cat

  • whats your dating and relationship iq

  • whats your relationship blueprint

  • what does it really mean when you pass or fail a relationship quiz

  • what is a healthy relationship

  • what parents should do for children to do their best after divorce

  • what planet is your relationship on

  • what to look for in a guy three requirements of a healthy relationship

  • what went wrong when relationships go from hot to cold

  • what you can do as a non raging mate to either fix the relationship or forget it

  • who should relocate in a long distance relationship

  • why other children are rejecting your child

  • widen and deepen your relationships get to the good stuff

  • women and men never the twain shall meet

  • your dog is a social animal and needs you

  • you can improve your relationship