7 Tips to Deepen Relationships

Be Open
       Be honest with how you feel. Be open. No judgments, no refrains, allow everything that is meant to be just be! Not everyone is great when it comes to vocalizing their feelings, and if this is the case for you let how you feel reflect through your actions. Hold no grudges and don't bear the weight of judgments.

Reflect
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
~Buddha
       Before you feel angry about a situation or more commonly, at someone specifically, pause and reflect. Most acts of anger at someone else are done in direct relation to a deep seated feeling that secretly 'I' am not enough.

       If you finding that a relationship that you have with someone is bringing a considerable amount of negativity into your life, perhaps it is time to examine this relationship and if needed take the necessary steps to change the circumstances. Just because we 'feel' something does not give grounds that this emotion is justified and or right! All problems about a situation are first created in the head.

Love
A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.
Kurt Vonnegut

       Love is a gift that begins with yourself first. By loving yourself and the world around you deeply, you give one of the greatest gifts to the world. Love deeply and without fear. People may be petty, mean, and ungrateful. Love these people as they are the ones who need it the most.

Forgive
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."
Paul Boese.

       We all make mistakes, it is a part of human nature and this is an undeniable fact. In relationships and even more-so intimate relationships, a simple mistake seems to bear so much more significant! Why is that? Forgiveness has less to do with the person that you are forgiving and more to do with yourself. The harder it is to forgive a person or situation, the more peace you will find with yourself.

Listen
       Truly listening means listening without any judgments or interruptions. Rather then listening as "Jane Doe" who holds opinions on this-and-that, simply listen as a presence of consciousness. Forgot yourself for five minutes -- try giving someone the chance to say anything and everything they want to say and see how you feel when you walk away from the conversation.
       We are hear to learn and experience as much as we can in the present moment that we have, and as much as it may seem that you so badly want to give your opinion you will find with time that people have much more interesting things to say.

Cherish
       Cherish every moment that you have and let people know it! Even if someone is unhappy or venting, understand that once this moment is gone, it will be buried in the past forever.
       By bringing gratitude into your life it opens up so many doors of possibilities and brings a sense of peace into relationships.Accept whatever time you have with the people you love-- no matter what kind of 'form' the situation may come in.

Accept
       Humans are funny and curious creatures. We may think we truly know someone before we are surprised with a challenging situation with someone we thought we 'knew.' We may know about someone, but we will never truly [b]know[/b] someone. Accept people! Accept the people you love even when they confuse, hurt, or even leave you. We are not meant to live up to any kind of expectations because we all have our places in this world.