The Do’s and Don’ts of Maintaining Healthy Relationships: Insights from 9Honey Experts

Maintaining healthy relationships is essential for our wellbeing, and yet it is not always easy. Whether it is a friendship, romantic partnership or a business relationship, there are certain ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ that can help us navigate the ups and downs of maintaining a healthy relationship. To gain insights into this subject, 9Honey Experts shared their professional views and experiences, which can guide us on the path towards developing successful and satisfying relationships.

DO: Communicate Honestly and Respectfully

Communication is the backbone of any successful relationship. Open, honest and respectful communication builds trust, intimacy and satisfaction in any kind of partnership. Whether it is expressing our needs, fears or expectations, it’s important to do it in a way that promotes understanding and does not trigger unnecessary conflict.

“I always recommend people start their conversations with ‘I feel’, rather than ‘you did’ or ‘you said’. This way, they are expressing their feelings without attributing blame.” – explains Christine Kewley, a relationship and sex therapist.

DON’T: Expect Perfection

It’s natural to expect our partners to share our values and goals, but expecting perfection is another story. Inevitably, we all encounter flaws or unmet expectations in our relationships. Focusing on these imperfections can drain our energy and prevent us from seeing the good in our relationships.

“Asking for perfection can set a relationship up for failure because no one is perfect. It’s important to give each other grace and encourage each other to grow and improve, but not to demand perfection,” shares Jocelyn Thompson, a relationship coach.

DO: Practice Gratitude

Focusing on the positive aspects of our relationships and expressing gratitude for them can have a profound impact on our emotional wellbeing. Gratitude helps us stay connected with our partners and induces positivity and satisfaction.

“Expressing gratitude goes a long way. It helps us to focus on what our partners do right, instead of what they do wrong,” says Rachel Andras, a clinical counsellor.

DON’T: Nag or Criticize

Nagging or criticizing our partners, their behaviours or actions can quickly strain the relationship and make our partners feel undervalued or unappreciated. Criticism leads to resentment, which can have a toxic impact on any relationship.

“When we criticize our partners, they tend to shut down and become defensive and that does not foster positivity or good communication,” cautions Mari Hanna, a relationship coach.

In Conclusion

Maintaining healthy relationships requires a conscious effort. We need to communicate openly and honestly, be grateful, refrain from overly criticizing our partners and avoid expecting perfection. By reflecting on these ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’, we can create stronger and more enjoyable relationships, which help us thrive in all areas of our lives.

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