Weathering The Storm – Building Relationship Resilience

By Mary Eniolu | 23 February 2024

In life’s dynamic journey, we often face challenges in our relationships, whether personal or professional. Stress can disrupt these connections, causing turmoil that may tempt us to abandon ship. Yet, with the right tools and mindset, we can navigate these rough waters and guide our relationships back to calmer seas.

Here are six strategies that will help if you find yourself on rocky waters with any of your relationships.

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1. Keep The Communication Channels Open

When faced with relationship challenges, the instinct is often to withdraw and shut down communication as a means of self-protection. However, this can exacerbate the situation. Keeping communication open, no matter how uncomfortable, is crucial for potential reconciliation or resolution.

 2. Accept That You Have a Part to Play

In relationships, it’s common to blame the other person when things go awry, but this perspective may not reflect reality. Acknowledging our own role, no matter how small, is essential for healing and restoring the relationship. Remember it always takes two to tango!

3. Acknowledge The Other Person and Empathise

Conflict often stems from differing perspectives, where our perception shapes our reality, even if it doesn’t align with the actual truth. Validating the other person’s viewpoint, even if we don’t agree, fosters openness and receptiveness to dialogue. Our unique perspectives influence how we interpret experiences and respond to them, underscoring the importance of empathy and understanding in our interactions.

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood” – Stephen Covey

4. Address the Issue Without Attacking the Person

Conflict is natural in relationships but need not be detrimental. If managed properly, it can even strengthen them. Constructive conflict resolution involves addressing the issue rather than attacking the individual. Taking ownership of your feelings and expressing them without blame fosters a more constructive dialogue. For example, saying “I felt undermined when my idea was discarded” is more productive than “You made me feel undermined by discarding my idea.

5. Let Go of the Need to be Right.

In relationships, prioritizing doing what’s best over being right is key. Instead of creating a divisive “me versus you” dynamic by focusing solely on being right, concentrate on the desired outcome and how to collectively progress towards it. This approach fosters common ground and facilitates bridge-building. Remember if you insist on being right, it means the other person must be wrong. Nobody loves being wrong.

6. Invest in Your Personal Development

The more we grow individually and accumulate emotional strength, the better we handle challenges in relationships. Investing in personal growth enhances understanding, broadens perspective, and provides the wisdom needed to navigate relationship difficulties effectively.

“We don’t see the world as it is, we see it as we are” ― Anaïs Nin

 

Every relationship encounters storms, but with patience, perseverance, and these strategies in your toolkit, you can navigate through them with grace and resilience.

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I hope you have found this blog helpful. Please feel free to leave your comments. I would very much love to hear from you.

Mary Eniolu – Speaker, Trainer, and Coach
Mary is an author, professional speaker and certified trainer, and coach. She is the founder of Can Do Academy, a training and development company offering CPD accredited training and coaching solutions to individuals and organizations, to enhance performance, achieve better results and enrich lives.

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