As a student, building healthy relationships in school is a must. Truth is, building relationship with people is essential to your success after school. And it starts and end in your everyday life.
In the context of this post, relationship refers to your connection or association or even the way you interact and relate with people around you. It may be social, romantic or interpersonal.
However, there are many students who are involved in very unhealthy relationships which are affecting them negatively. While others have the passion and desire to be in good relationships with people around but don’t know how to stay in touch.
If any of that describes you, then you are on the right page. By the end of this blog, you will know how to build a healthy, long lasting and profitable relationship.
The only thing you must do is; read to the end.
Why are relationships important?
One may ask.
Most people prefer staying on their own and don’t care much about relating with other people. But the importance of healthy relationships can not be overemphasized.
Why? Because it is very important in your physical, social and emotional well-being. Therefore, it becomes very necessary to learn and know how to sustain them.
Tips to building healthy relationships
Relationships don’t start suddenly. According to George Lavinger in one of his studies in 1980, he stated the stages in inter personal relationship, which are;
- Acquaintance
- The build up process
- Continuation
- Breakdown
- Termination or ending
To be in relationships with people, you must first have self confidence and believe in yourself. You must have a good self esteem.
Knowing what you want and the kind of people you’d like to be in a relationship with will help a lot. Then a level of acquaintance which should be able to tell you if a relationship with that person is likely to be beneficial or detrimental.
You should go for a relationship that will make you happy and give you a sense of belonging, one that has some level of trust, respect and mutual understanding. Such qualities are very important from both parties to avoid the relationship being one sided.
See my tips to choosing a roommate in school. You’d be glad you did because it also applies to choosing friends.
Maintaining a healthy relationship
After the qualities and the acquaintance, it is important to be realistic. You should be able to accept such people as they are, knowing that no body is perfect. Also, you need to be truthful and real.
Communication is very important, you should talk to each other sincerely and give all the needed attention.
You should be able to listen genuinely and try to understand their points, to show you are interested in the subject matter and also in their wellbeing. Ask questions about their experiences, how they feel and try to know their opinions and what they are interested in.
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Also, sharing vital information can strengthen a relationship. You should be willing to provide help when you can. Take responsibility and be humble enough to apologise for any wrongs be it intentional or not.
When an argument arises, cool yourself down and let your point be clear and specific. If you must, then attack the problem not the person. Be careful enough not to say what you may regret later.
Why is it important? Regrets can haunt and taunt a person into psychosis (a severe mental disorder). This may result in bad habits like drug use and addictions, having a negative impact on your health and overall well being.
Express your feelings. Try to be authentic by always being your self and not pretending to be what you are not.
A successful relationship will only go through the first three stages which are, the acquaintance, the build up process and the continuation stage.
Any relationship that ends up in a breakup would have gone through all stages. Most attempts in search of a healthy relationship ends in the acquaintance or the build up process.
Most relationships do not end in school, they go a long way after school and can be profitable and helpful thereafter.
Therefore respect every one around and always be at peace with people. But know your limits and set your boundaries. That’s the way up.
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Have you ever been in a productive relationship? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Raphael okoh has a bachelor degree in human physiology (in view)from the college of medical sciences university of calabar.
He is passionate about the media world with experience as a radio manager in a radio station. A content and script writer with great passion for writing and acting.
A leader and politician with interest in politics with ethics and is always willing to serve and to work towards the development and unity of humanity.