It is wonderful to have a harmonious relationship, where both people feel understood and listened to. There is no need for convincing or ego-tussling in these relationships, just a comfortable fit like a hand in a glove. Only when you understand your partners can you begin to harmonize with them.
What is more important than whether you agree is understanding the different points of view on a topic. Without understanding your partner, you cannot reach the harmony you desire. It may seem like a lofty goal, but it is possible with patience and trust in each other.
It is instinctual for you to feel threatened when you disagree with someone else’s beliefs because you believe they define who you are. This makes it difficult for you to go into a disagreement without thinking about how it will affect you so that you can present your ideas to someone else.
Thankfully, there are some things that you can do during disagreements so that harmony can be reached and maintained.
5 tips for building a harmonious relationship
1. Focus on compassion
It is easier to get along with someone when you can be empathic toward their feelings.
When trying to maintain harmony, compassion will be your best friend. By being compassionate toward your partner and their thoughts, it becomes more difficult for them to feel threatened by disagreements.
By choosing to listen instead of speak, you do not diminish yourself in the process of understanding another person.
2. Avoid personalizing
It is easy to feel threatened by another’s opinions because you personalize everything they say and take it personally. One of the most common ways this happens is when you hear something that reminds you of your shortcomings and fears and interprets it as an attack on yourself rather than simply a different perspective that may help you grow stronger in certain circumstances or situations.
By avoiding personalizing, you can take a step back and try to see the bigger picture of what your partner is saying without feeling as if it is an attack on you. In addition, if you do not personalize, it becomes easier for you to understand why someone may have a different opinion from yours and it thus becomes more difficult to feel threatened by what they say.
3. Be willing to compromise
The art of compromise takes a great deal of trust and understanding because both people must be willing to give up something so that harmony can prevail. Without this understanding or trust, there will be no room for compromise, because neither person will believe that the other is being objective or unbiased in their views.
For a harmonious relationship, both people must compromise without thinking about whose idea is better. However, suppose there is not this willingness to give up something for the sake of harmony. In that case, it becomes difficult for either person to trust that their interests are being taken into account and thus, they will feel threatened by their partner even more than before.
4. The art of forgiveness
During arguments, one person often does not express themselves in the best way possible or says something that may hurt their partner. Therefore, it is essential to forgive them and forget these things so that harmony can prevail.
If you want to maintain a harmonious relationship with someone else, you must be willing to forgive them when they do not handle disagreements the best way possible. This is especially important because it becomes easier for you to feel threatened if you bring up past arguments or disagreements during a current situation.
By being able to forget these things and forgiving your partner, both of you can move on from past mistakes and have more confidence in your present interactions with each other.
5. Being willing to let go of anger
Anger is another common obstacle that prevents a harmonious relationship. It often gets in the way of understanding because, most likely, you cannot see anything clearly, but rather are blinded by your anger and frustration, which does not allow for any objective thinking.
A great way to let go of anger is by keeping a journal. This can be very therapeutic for you because whenever you feel threatened or hurt by your partner, it allows you to take some time away from the situation and express how you are feeling without confronting them about something that may not be so easy to talk about at the moment. In addition, by controlling your anger, even if it is just taking some time away from the situation, both people will have more confidence in their communication with one another. Thus, a harmonious relationship can be easier to maintain.
