Six Lessons In Relationships You Should Learn

Relationships are a significant part of most people's lives, and when they are healthy, contribute to our mental health and general well-being. The extent and quality of an individual's relationships will largely impact their quality of life, outlooks on life, how they move through the world, and even people to who they are exposed. Countless individuals have credited relationships for providing them with opportunities and allowing them to grow as human beings.

Like many other areas in life, there are various lessons that you can learn from relationships. Ultimately, learning the right lessons is what allows you to evolve, grow, reflect, and better yourself. Life is a journey, and there is continually something new to be learned when you leave yourself open to the experience. Read on to learn more about what you can gain from your relationships and how they support you. 

What lessons can be learned in relationships?

To begin with, no two relationships are the same. As you grow and live, you will learn that different relationships have something new to teach you. Some relationships are meant to last for a season, whereas others are meant to exist a lifetime. Regardless of which types of relationships you have, if you're able to find the right lessons in each relationship, you're setting yourself up to do well in life.

Your actions do not only impact you

When people move through the world, they tend to engage in actions which they believe will benefit them on some level. Many hardworking individuals devote themselves to their careers because they believe opportunities and profit will result. Likewise, people who engage in habits that may be destructive, such as excessive drinking, abuse of drugs, etc., do so because they think fitting in with a certain crowd or gaining a temporary escape from problems will outweigh the negative impact of consequences.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Regardless of your decisions, whether good or bad, your actions do not solely impact you. Other people who are close to you and who care for you are also impacted by these choices. Often, it can be easy to lose sight of this, but it's quite an important lesson. Relationships and connections with others allow you to get a first-hand view of how your life decisions touch those around you. Knowing the impact these actions reverberate around us should encourage each person to make wiser, smarter decisions.

Your inner circle can inspire you or bring you down

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” -Jim Rohn  

Motivational speaker Jim Rohn stated that each person is the average of the five people with whom they most frequently associate. This happens to be correct, whether for better or for worse. As human beings, we each tend to emulate the behaviors of those around us. We're creatures of habit, and this can happen both consciously and subconsciously.

If you consistently find yourself in relationships with ethical, honest, and hardworking people, you are more likely to adopt these traits. Likewise, if you are surrounded by lazy, dishonest, and morally bankrupt individuals, these habits will rub off on you as well. In many cases, you may not even realize that you are gradually learning the behaviors you to which you are most frequently exposed. If so, surround yourself with people who show you healthy and positive behaviors while steering clear of anyone who will bring you down. 

Attitudes determine outcomes

The attitudes which you have in various settings will largely determine the outcomes which you experience. This is something you can learn from relationships because, in large, what you invest is what you will also benefit from. For example, if you are regularly rude, mean, and dismissive of people around you, those relationships will eventually sour and disintegrate. People typically do not like to be around anyone who mistreats them.

On the other token, if you treat people with kindness, respect, and humility, you will most likely get a better response. People tend to want to be around someone who is nice to them and may even be more inclined to do them favors. What you give to others will return to you, in most cases.

Certain blessings come in disguise

All blessings in life do not immediately present themselves as such. This lesson is particularly important to learn in relationships since certain ones are bound to fail. As previously stated, this will not always be your fault as not all relationships are meant to last for a lifetime.

The end of a relationship can often lead to better relationships and interactions later down the line. Sometimes, certain doors must close for others to open. This type of lesson is generally learned through experience. However, it's still very important for people to realize as they go through life. Recognizing that certain blessings will not immediately come off as blessings is a valuable lesson for those looking to achieve success and fulfillment.

Like attracts like

When it comes to romantic relationships, many individuals have an idea of what their desired partner is like. It's not uncommon for people to want someone who has traits often deemed favorable and desirable. Of course, there is nothing wrong with having standards and sticking to them; that's quite commendable, but the standards which one has needs to be standards for to which they hold themselves as well.

It's not realistic for someone to want a faithful, kind, and caring partner when they themselves are self-centered, dismissive, and inconsiderate. In relationships, like tends to attract like. Individuals who are shallow and hold certain outlooks on life tend to attract other individuals of a similar nature. On the other hand, people with values, a moral compass, and high standards tend to gravitate towards others who are like this.

In a sense, you attract who you are. A person who works hard pushes themselves and accepts nothing but the best will most likely look for someone with the same attributes. Another individual who is characteristically lazy and without internal motivation may settle for the same. If you want better results and outcomes in life, love, relationships, etc., work first to be a better version of yourself. 

What you put in is what you get out

Relationships thrive when both people are open, honest, committed, and transparent with one another. In this regard, what you invest into a relationship is generally what you will get out of it. This same principle is often applied in other life scenarios, such as successful test scores after intently studying for a tough exam. A person who works hard, invests in themselves, and takes education seriously is much more poised for success than their less hardworking, lazier counterpart.

Similarly, if you do not prioritize your relationships and put effort into their growth and development, they will not work out. People will eventually get the message that you are not interested in contributing and will move on to others who value them. 

Human nature is defined by our ability to make mistakes and learn from them. At the end of the day,  your results and outcomes are determined by how you respond to when you fumble and your willingness to change yourself for the better.

The importance of healthy relationships

Life on this Earth is characterized by a social existence. Considering most plants and animal mimic social behaviors of some sort when they reproduce, compete, cooperate, or move with each other. Humans are no exception. In terms of evolution, the ability to socialize and interact with each other as humans plays a central role in our survival as a species. To feel secure, human ancestors developed tight social connections by sharing food, helping each other, and working as a team. Essentially, we need each other to survive. 

Healthy relations are part of healthy living; human beings were meant to be around others and have support. This does not mean that you should never be alone or have time for yourself, but isolation can lead to serious mental health consequences. Time and time again, it's been proven that having a trusted network to rely upon and confide in is conducive to mental and emotional health.

Overcoming obstacles

The benefits of healthy relationships and the lessons you should learn from them truly will help you to overcome obstacles when they arise. When you increase your wisdom from healthy relationships, you will only improve your future relationships. The more information you have, the more you must work with when you are facing a scenario that is difficult for you.

Fortunately, you do not have go through the obstacles of life alone. The right resources can truly make a difference and provide you with immensely valuable tools and guidance. Therapy is a very popular, relevant practice with a well-documented track record of generating success and improvement in various people's lives. If you're going through a rough patch or simply in need of someone to chat with, signing up for online therapy with Regain is strongly advised.

Here at Regain, the number one priority of our online therapists is to ensure that each person we work with receives the best outcomes. This doesn't mean that problems will magically vanish; although, you will be able to face your problems, deal with them accordingly, and come out on the other side as a stronger individual.

One of the greatest upsides to online therapy is the ability to get care from anywhere in the world. Research also supports the benefits of virtual therapy with studies showing that online couples therapy can have a profound and positive impact on those who are experiencing relationship distress. Each one of us has lives, schedules, and obligations that must be met. However, this does not have to get in the way of receiving valuable care and support. Do not hesitate to reach out to one of our online therapists today and get personalized care to best suit your needs.

Takeaway

Relationship problems do not have get in the way of a healthy relationship. With a commitment to improving communication and working through challenges, you both can grow together as a team. If you find that you need additional support, know that a couples counselor is available to help. You only have to reach out and ask.