Elizabeth Golembiewski

Our personal relationships are vital to our well-being because human connection gives us a sense of belonging. When we feel supported and connected to others, we minimize stress and anxiety in life. Our relationships can be life-affirming when they work. However, when they don’t, they can cause us frustration and heartache. Here are four ways to help you improve your relationships.

Happy relationships are sustained by several essential qualities, including patience, forgiveness, and acceptance. Yet, these things are typically glossed over, and instead, the focus is placed instead on finding Mr. or Ms. Right. Our cultural messages emphasize finding Mr. or Ms. Right as the key to everlasting love and conceal the fact that relationships take work. We erroneously believe that the right partner will make us happy, and we'll live "happily ever after." So, when your relationship gets complicated, does that mean you've picked the wrong partner? Or is there something else at play?

As human beings, we instinctively long for connection with other people. Yet sometimes, creating a connection is difficult. If you want to have a loving relationship but are having trouble creating one, you may be blocking yourself from love without even realizing it.