Who would you call if you were in trouble in the middle of the night? Who do you share your greatest achievements with? Who’s the person you always want to be with when you feel lonely? When it comes to building and maintaining close relationships, quantity is not as important as quality. If you had a person (or people) in mind while reading these questions, that means that you’re surrounded by the right people.

Studies have shown that about 25% of longevity variation is due to genetics. However, lifestyle choices also significantly contribute to human longevity. There are multiple ways of increasing the chances of living longer, such as physical exercise and eating healthily. However, taking care of our physical health is not the only way to increase the quality and length of our lives. It is true that social connections are vital when it comes to longevity, but what about the connection between close relationships and the likelihood of living longer?

So, what can we do to strengthen our close relationships?

What Can We Do to Strengthen Our Close Relationships?

Be Mindful With Our Thoughts 

Thoughts are products of the mind, and it’s important to remember that our thoughts don’t always reflect reality. Making assumptions instead of discovering what’s really going on can negatively affect our relationships. Communication is key for avoiding this.

Communicate Openly 

When irritated by the behavior of others, it’s more beneficial to reflect on it instead of instantly reacting to it. Different attitudes can have different causes, and communication can help people talk about and deal with their emotions and feelings.

Listen Attentively 

Feeling supported and cared for is vital for our wellness. Listening to the people we care for when they most need it is important when building and maintaining healthy relationships.

Be Supportive 

Preparing a cup of coffee for our colleague at work, showing our best friends how proud we are of their achievements, or even telling our parents how much we care about them can all help us strengthen our relationships. The attention and support others receive from us, even though they might not ask for it, can help them open up and share their concerns with us, which can further strengthen our bonds with them.

Be Grateful 

It is important to show your loved ones how much they mean to you and how grateful you are for their support. Showing our gratitude will bring joy to their lives as well as our own.

Enhance Our Social Intelligence 

Social intelligence is the ability to communicate and relate to others, and to recognize how our emotions and attitudes can affect the way we interact with others. In addition, social intelligence helps us understand the behavior of others.

Our busy routines can keep us from staying in touch with the people we care about. If you’re thinking about a friend, wondering how your cousin is doing, or just remembered some fun times you had with a former work colleague, write or call them right away. Leaving communication only for when we have “more time” can negatively affect the intimacy of our relationships. It’s possible that we’ll never find the time to get in contact with them even though we’re thinking about them, and they’ll never know because we’re unable to demonstrate it to them. And, when we don’t talk or see friends or family for a long time, the intimacy can change as the lack of contact can negatively influence the quality of our close relationships.

Healthy relationships are based on communication, trust, and respect. Aside from personal relationships, the connections we make at work or within our neighborhood are also important for our overall wellness. When we’re dealing with difficult times, close relationships help us feel supported, can enhance our self-esteem, and empower us to make important decisions.