{"id":33498,"date":"2015-06-11T21:18:59","date_gmt":"2015-06-12T05:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=33498"},"modified":"2015-06-15T20:48:22","modified_gmt":"2015-06-16T04:48:22","slug":"one-simple-way-to-improve-any-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/one-simple-way-to-improve-any-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"One Simple Way to Improve Any Relationship"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

<\/p>\n

Healthy relationships are an essential part of\u00a0a good life. As complex as relationships can be, there’s one simple thing\u00a0you can do to improve them instantly.<\/p>\n

Relationships are based on the dynamic of give and take. We\u00a0have relationships because they benefit us in some way; otherwise, we’d all do our own thing. A healthy relationship is mutually beneficial, in which both parties feel like they are benefitted more than burdened.<\/p>\n

Problems in relationships sprout up when someone’s expectations aren’t being met.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The simple way to improve any relationship is to adjust\u00a0your expectations:\u00a0expect to\u00a0receive less and expect to\u00a0give more. Giving more\u00a0will increase your value to the other person, while expecting less will make\u00a0you far less likely to be disappointed in them.\u00a0This isn’t done in a vacuum\u2014the greatest benefit will be\u00a0how the\u00a0relationship dynamic changes.<\/p>\n

What’s your first inclination when a stranger\u00a0on the street asks you for a favor? I have a heart for the homeless and often buy them meals, but I admit I still feel defensive\u00a0sometimes when they ask me for money.\u00a0It’s human nature to question the motives and feel defensive\u00a0when\u00a0person gives nothing and wants something.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

I live in Portland, and there was a homeless man here who was “selling jokes” for 25 cents. I noticed that people were much more receptive to him because not only was he not asking for much, but he was giving something in return. He created a more favorable give\/take scenario than most homeless people do.\u00a0I bought a\u00a0joke\u00a0and regretted it because it\u00a0was\u00a0dirty, but that’s beside the point.<\/p>\n

Generosity Is Contagious<\/b><\/p>\n

In Portland, we have hundreds of food carts which offer inexpensive and quickly-made food. They all have tip jars, and I’ve noticed that I feel more compelled to tip if I see that others have tipped. We’re greatly influenced by the actions of those around us, which is why being generous can have a more powerful impact than it may seem. It’s not just anecdotal experience, either.\u00a0Studies have found<\/a>\u00a0that generosity is contagious.<\/p>\n

When you are generous to others through words, actions, and support, it will be their natural inclination to want to return the favor to you and\/or others without you even asking. At one of the food carts I eat at regularly, the man who runs it regularly\u00a0makes\u00a0me free mint tea, and I\u00a0regularly\u00a0tip him not because I feel obligated, but because I want to do it. Healthy relationships aren’t fueled by obligation, but by a genuine desire for the other person to prosper.<\/p>\n

Imagine two people in a romantic or friend relationship\u00a0who\u00a0both decide\u00a0to give more than they receive to the other. Their admiration, trust, and respect for one\u00a0another\u00a0will\u00a0grow, and the relationship will thrive, because\u00a0when you give more and expect less, you increase your value and decrease your burden to the other person. When both people do this in a relationship, the impact is tremendous. But even if one person does it, it will usually change the dynamic and encourage the other person to give more as well.<\/p>\n

Giving more\u00a0isn’t just about showering people with gifts\u2014relational needs are more\u00a0diverse than that. It can also mean spending time with them, complimenting them, calling them just to see how they are (don’t just call when you need a\u00a0favor!), listening to them with genuine interest, helping\u00a0them move, and offering your support in other ways.\u00a0It means actively looking for ways to help them rather than waiting for them to ask.<\/p>\n

Run an experiment for a week: give more and expect less in your relationships, and see how it affects them. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!\u00a0For more on the importance of setting the right expectations, check out my new book on\u00a0how to be an imperfectionist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stephen<\/span> Guise is the international bestselling author of\u00a0“<\/i>Mini Habits<\/i><\/a>” and “<\/i>How to Be an Imperfectionist<\/i><\/a>.” His blog, Deep Existence\u00a0is\u00a0one of the world’s most popular resources online for focusing and habit-building strategies. If you\u00a0<\/i>sign up for updates at Deep Existence<\/i><\/a>, you\u2019ll receive 40 custom desktop focus wallpapers,Stephen<\/span>\u2019s book on stress-management, 30 subscriber-exclusive articles, and practical life tips every Tuesday morning.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The simple way to improve any relationship is to adjust your expectations: expect to receive less and expect to give more. 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