REVITALISING RELATIONSHIPS

Not A Crossword

ant parts of having great relationships around you.

Never forget these 6 simple things:

• Be kind. It costs you less energy to be kind than it does to be angry – so stick with being kind.

CarynWalsh

The Bugle is our community newspaper. It is for you, for us, for all. We’ve been asked to include a column about relationships and families and life in beautiful Kiama, so we have enlisted the help of Caryn Walsh, who is a distinguished life and executive coach, counsellor and psychotherapist. She has worked with countless families, couples and individuals over the last 20 years and is well known for her ability to help others deal with life’s challenges. Caryn is also a leadership and team development specialist and works in Australia, Africa and Fiji. Caryn will address different topics in each feature, and you are very welcome to pose questions for her to answer.

Here are some of Caryn’s thoughts:

REVITALISING RELATIONSHIPS

Let’s face it. Some relationships are hard work, and often you may feel as if you are putting in much effort, and the other person is doing very little. That could be true of course, or it could be your perception, and often they differ.

Whether it is with your partner, child, sibling, friend or parent, there are some really simple things we can do each day to keep our relationships strong and able to steer the challenges we are faced with in life.

Relationships thrive when people show loving care for each other and work at their relationships. So, let’s not forget some simple import-

• Give – a lot. Our relationships are not a profit and loss ledger, but research tells us (and we support that mostly) the more you give in any relationship, the more you get in return.

• Communicate – the life blood of your relationship. Without it, the relationship system slows down and unless addressed may not always survive.

• Compromise. Don’t get stuck in a rigid way of thinking - be more agile in arrangements and with ideas that the other person brings to you. Explore options together to work out what fits best.

• Create time for intimacy. One couple asked me to help them rebuild their 11-year-old marriage, but when we worked it out, there were only two hours a week where they could build their relationship. Two hours isn’t going to cut it. So, make your relationship (whatever it is) a priority.

• Show respect and listen. Treat each other well and always be respectful and sensitive to the needs of each other.

When you look at these six factors, how well do you go on each and where do you think you can pay more focus? How well do you ‘do relationships?’ and where can you improve?

Human relationships are not about you - or me - they are about us.

Pose your questions to Caryn to answer in each Bugle edition: hello@thebuglenewspaper. com.au

All information is confidential and whilst we may publish your question, all names will be changed to protect your privacy.