What is a healthy relationship? 
While each and every relationship is unique, I can tell you one thing they all have in common: They don’t just appear out of thin air. Fulfilling relationships are forged and sustained through time and intention. In this fast paced world, it’s normal that you find yourself placing your relationships on the back burner. While it can be easy to assume the love will sustain itself, much like a garden, if left unattended for too long it too will struggle to survive.
The truth is, to have good quality relationships we all need to invest time into them. When you give your time to strengthening your connections, you not only improve your partnerships, you improve your own well-being.
Time is the foundation of any connection. Whether romantic, platonic, or even familial, all strong relationships are grounded by time. The important thing to note is it’s not just any time: What feeds relationships is quality time with each other. The quantity of time spent with one another does not equal closeness; It’s presence that is really the basis of a solid connection. If you think about the last time you really felt heard, chances are it wasn’t a long conversation. 
The act of giving someone your full attention, your presence, is what transforms ordinary moments into meaningful ones. When you carve out the time for your buddy in the relationship you send them a message loud and clear. “You matter to me. I value you.” Consistently setting aside time for them builds trust and creates a type of intimacy that can’t be manufactured.
Investing yourself into your relationship doesn’t require grand gestures. As discussed before, it’s the level of depth that carries true meaning. Be sure to fully pay attention to the other person. Silence your notification, set aside distractions, and just engage with your partner. Being present shows you care. You can also build rituals with each other. By creating these routines, you show your partner intent while also creating stability and comfort for both of you. Don’t forget to show gratitude for the little things. Sometimes it can feel like you only need to celebrate the big milestones in life, but showing whoever you’re with that you notice and appreciate their efforts deepens your connection. When you talk with each other, feel free to go a little deeper. Try connecting on another level by going beyond “What did you do today?” By encouraging openness you strengthen your relationship. Another way to invest in your relationship is to share new experiences together. From exploring a new place to learning a new language, shared experiences build lasting memories that also cultivate your relationship.
Consistency is key to cultivating a thriving relationship. Small acts of love, repeated time and time again, foster a sense of safety and belonging. This consistent pattern proves to your brain that this relationship is here to last, and isn’t just a few big gestures followed by nothing. 
Consistency also builds resilience. By regularly showing your partner you care, you prepare your relationship to weather any storm. When the inevitable challenges of life arise, you can rest easy knowing you’ve invested in nurturing a bond that is unbreakable. An established foundation of trust and connection better equips you both to support each other long term.
What’s important to remember is that thriving relationships aren’t always perfect.Some days can be tougher than others, but what makes your couple thrive is showing up and choosing each other time and time again. It can be tempting to treat connection as something that should be effortless. But keep in mind that anything worth having requires effort, lots of it. By intentionally carving out time to be present- to laugh, grow, and share- with each other, you both invest in life’s greatest asset: Human Connection.
Want to dive deeper? Listen to our Clinical Director’s Podcast, Straight Talk with Sandra Reich, and learn even more about the importance of investing time into your couple.
Investing the Time to Thrive as a Couple
About the Episode
Do you ever wonder why some couples “make it” and some do not? When you think about it, it’s a little bit miraculous that any two people from different worlds get together and make love last for long stretches of time. Although it may seem like magic, it really is not. It’s not a formula either because every couple is different. But research shows us that there ARE some trends and commonalities in those healthy relationships.
Join Sandra and Maite as they talk about the latest research in cultivating thriving couple relationships.
Listen to it here:
https://youtu.be/8XnWd9TA4v4?si=Sqy5d4m6h4rFMQ6k
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If you’ve found yourself looking to deepen your relationships, this is your prompt to make it happen. At The Montreal Center for Anxiety and Depression we have top specialists who can guide you and your partner (in any relationship) towards a strengthened bond and connection. It would be our absolute pleasure to match you with a therapist who will help you make your relationship thrive.
To find your therapist now, give us a call at 514 777-4530 today. We would love to help you, and get you started on your journey. Change your life… TODAY!
