15 Relationship Changes You Should Make Across the Board

No matter how good your relationships are with your spouse, your significant other, your family, your friends or your coworkers, there is always room for a little improvement through change. When you put forth the effort to make a little change in your relationships, you will see an improvement across the board. These changes are simple, fun and will make you a better person – not that you aren’t already completely fabulous. Read on to find out what 15 changes you should make to your relationships now.

Stay In Touch

When someone matters to you, stay in touch with them. Whether it’s a once a week phone call or a once a month email, staying in touch with those who matter to you is a huge deal to you and to them. Your relationships with blossom and your friendships will grow.

Say Goodbye To the Negative People

Nothing sucks the energy out of you faster than a bunch of negative people. Say goodbye to the worrywart and the constant competitor and keep only those in your life who build you up, live positively and make you smile rather than make you frown. You know who those people are.

Let Go of the Past

Maybe you miss an old boyfriend or your old best friend and wonder what your life would be like if they were in it, but you shouldn’t. The past is the past for a reason, and bringing it into the future won’t make anyone happy.

Be Kind to Strangers

The stranger today might be a trusted pal and confidante tomorrow. Those you meet today are a blank slate and you should be kind to them. Of course, some of them will be total psychopaths but a few might just end up being good friends or even a long-lasting relationship (just not with the psychopath, okay?).

Listen More

Being good wife/friend/sister/daughter/pal means spending a little less time talking and a little more time listening. You can do it; your friends aren’t that boring (and if they are, consider replacing them with people you actually enjoy listening to).

Ignore the Petty Stuff

So you get engaged to an amazing man and your best friend doesn’t react exactly how you thought she would. In fact, she makes a snide remark about how great your wedding will be but what a great time the divorce party will be. Unless she makes it a habit of saying rude, hurtful things to you on a regular basis, chalk it up to the fact that she’s having a bad day and ignore the petty stuff. Of course, if she acts like this all the time, it might be time to reevaluate your friendship all together.

Be A Cheerleader

When your loved ones accomplish something and even when they don’t, always be their biggest cheerleader. The best of friends and the happiest of people are the ones who are always there for their friends cheering them on and supporting them in whatever they do.

Say What You Mean

If you don’t mean something, don’t say it. The new guy you’re dating says he loves you and you’re not ready to say it back; then don’t. Everything out of your mouth should be honest. Unless, of course, your daughter asks you if her coloring is beautiful and it’s really just a trainwreck. Lie to her; she’s a kid.

Give Advice, but Don’t Push it

Ultimately, when someone asks for your opinion it’s fine to get it, but the decision they make is entirely their own. That means you get to say what you think and then support what they think, even if it’s a really bad idea, such as a tattoo of someone’s face on their bottom.

Accept Them

Loving your loved ones just as they are is key. If you feel the need to change them, then something is wrong. Your job is to love your loved ones for exactly who they are today, not who you think they can be.

Be Fiercely Loyal

One of the best qualities in any relationship is loyalty. This means you get to hate the guy who did your friend wrong and love your girlfriends like sisters. Being loyal is good.

Don’t Forget You

The most important person in all of your relationships is you. This means you cannot forget yourself in your effort to make your friends and loved ones happy. Sometimes you just need to take a break and have a little me-time. Go to the spa. Drink a bottle of wine. Read a new book. Do whatever.

Don’t Say Negative Things About Your Man

One of the most important things you can do in your relationships is never say anything negative about your husband to anyone. See, you can forgive his flaws but your friends and family don’t have to. Don’t complain about him; ever.

Don’t be Two-Faced

They say that if you’re going to be two-faced that you should at least make one of them pretty, but the real truth is that you simply shouldn’t be two faced. Don’t talk about your friends and family. Ever.

Live by the Golden Rule

Treat everyone with whom you have a relationship the same way you wish them to treat you in return. If you find yourself being treated poorly by a friend or family member, it might be because you’re treating them poorly. Your relationships can teach you a lot about yourself; allow them to.