How to Have Successful Relationships

Do NOT begin any relationship with a person, child, or animal expecting them to fulfill your needs. You will lose every time. You must meet your own needs while genuinely caring about others. Respect that you are viewed as a different person through the eyes of your family, friends, and spouse/partner. You are in charge of your behavior in a certain relationship. Strive to make it positive. Recognize your reactions and make them healthy. Just be aware of how you respond to others. Don't be fearful or defensive. These are emotions that will result in hurting others, whether you mean to or not. You'll find that when you make the first step in having a positive relationship, the other person will most likely reciprocate. However, learn recognize unhealthy relationships and terminate them.

If your are finding yourself putting too much energy into making a relationship good, then you should stop and re-evaluate whether or not it's a relationship you should have in your life. Do not live to please everyone. Again, you will lose in the end. Do good things simply because it feels good to add quality to this world and not because you are looking for some sort of acceptance. Although you should strive to be positive with others, you should not live to make others happy. This is where you need to decide what kind of people you want surrounding you in your life. It's your choice. Try taking on a greater responsibility for the welfare of others. This is an area in which you shouldn't think about until you feel you have succeeded in meeting your own needs by finding your strength and inner self. If you feel you have, then consider taking a step in making a positive difference in other people's lives.

Use your strength and knowledge by being a positive influence and support for those struggling to find their way. Recognize people who do their job well. This could be your local Post Office Clerk, Trash man, or School Teacher. I am lucky to have exceptional people in all three of those areas, so I have done things to show them my appreciation. People must think I am crazy when they see me putting candy on top of my garbage cans. My reason for doing this is not to make myself happy, but to reinforce to them their quality comes back to them. Give back and reach inward for support.