6 Ways To Mend Your Broken Relationships

Relationships are a lot of work. If you aren’t careful, your relationship can become rocky and unhappy. Through work, stress, and even daily routines, partners can drift apart. If you think that your relationship is broken, here are six ways to mend your relationship before it’s too late.

Acknowledge the Problem

One of the first steps to mending your relationship is acknowledging that there is a problem. If you or your partner are distracted, say hurtful things, or feel like you aren’t in a loving relationship, it is important to acknowledge those feelings. If you bottle them up and don’t address your concerns, it will only do more damage to your relationship.

Be Honest

If you think that there is a problem with your relationship, be honest with your partner. Don’t accuse or blame your partner, but do be honest about your feelings and about your views of the relationship. Sometimes during an argument, we can say things that we don’t mean, so it is essential to stick to your experiences within the relationship and not put any blame on your partner. You also should be honest with your partner about your intentions to fix the relationship. Do not assume that they know that something is wrong and be honest with them when you state why and how you are trying to address any issues that you have.

Take Responsibility

While it is crucial to not blame your partner for the poor state of your relationship, it is also necessary for you to take responsibility for your actions. If you say or do things, either intentionally or unintentionally, that hurt your partner, be sure to take responsibility for those actions. Healthy, happy relationships are often the result of partners working hard together and taking responsibility for things that they do. Unhealthy and unstable relationships are often the result of partners who blame each other for issues in the relationship. When you take responsibility, you are not only relieving your partner of undue stress and blame but also committing yourself to make the relationship stronger.

Listen

One of the best ways to fix your relationship is listening. When you listen to your partner, don’t think about ways to defend yourself or your response. Instead, take time and actively listen to what your partner is saying. One useful technique is to repeat what you think your partner said and have them acknowledge that you understand what they meant before you respond. This type of active listening shows your partner that you are not only listening to them but also investing in what they have to say. Don’t just listen to their words. Watch out for nonverbal cues to indicate their feelings as well. When you and your partner can listen and understand each other, you will be able to communicate with each other and address issues before they get out of hand.

Apologize

One thing that you can do to help mend your relationship is to apologize. Apologizing is one way to show that you are taking responsibility in your relationship and actively listening to what your partner is saying. If you do something that upsets your partner, take a moment, and apologize for that specific behavior. When you apologize for a particular action, you show your partner that you understand what upset them and that you want to make things right. Similarly, if your partner does something that bothers you, tell them precisely what upset you and why. Also, if your partner does something that you appreciate, tell them. This reinforces the good behavior that you want and still holds them responsible for their actions–both good and bad.

Be Willing to Compromise

If you are trying to fix your relationship, you should be ready to compromise with your partner. Do not demand that your needs and wants in the relationship be met unconditionally. Instead, have an honest conversation with your partner to discover ways to fix your relationship together. This means that you might have to start or even stop acting in specific ways to make your partner feel better in the relationship. When compromising, be sure that you and your partner come together on the issues that are plaguing your relationship. If you still aren’t happy, be honest with your partner and try to find other solutions.

Get a Different Perspective

Sometimes during your conversations and compromises, you and your partner might reach a standstill. If this happens, it can always be insightful to get a different perspective. You can ask advice from a trusted friend or even seek out professional therapy. Whatever route that you choose, be sure that you include your partner. While you each may need individual therapy or private conversations with friends, be honest with your partner about your need to seek outside help to mend your relationship.