Healthy Relationships Initiative
Our siblings are our very first friends and teach us much of what we know about relationships. As we grow older, it’s important to continue to nurture and strengthen the relationship with your sibling(s). Healthy sibling relationships can lead to a lifetime of support, trust, and respect, and can make life’s troubles and conflicts seem more manageable. Regardless of your age, your relationship with your siblings can “light up your path and make the walk worthwhile.”
Break-ups are hard and painful, and it’s okay to be sad and hurt after a relationship ends. It’s important to honor these feelings and give yourself time to grieve the loss of the relationship. After the relationship ends, it’s important to practice self-compassion and self-love. Give yourself time to process your emotions, engage in self-care, and reach out for social support!
A key part of healthy break-ups involves being as clear and certain as possible to help promote a sense of closure as the relationship ends. When you are able to convey clear reasons for the end of the relationship, it can reduce a sense of uncertainty and help both people find closure.
It’s also important to acknowledge that break-ups don’t come with a how-to manual and sometimes there isn’t a clear reason for the end of a relationship. Sometimes break-ups can feel confusing and messy. If this is the case, try your best to hold space and empathy for one another, as you try navigating a really challenging situation. When you embrace sentiments of empathy and compassion, it can help promote healing and kindness amidst a difficult situation.
If possible, break up in person and avoid breaking up in public. When you end a relationship in person it allows for both people to express their feelings, gain closure, and feel respected. Avoiding public breakups is also important, as it keeps both people from facing added embarrassment and helps both partners feel more comfortable to express their emotions and process the end of the relationship in a healthy way.
When a relationship ends, both people are likely experiencing a wide range of emotions, and it’s important to create space for both people to feel and express these emotions. Be sure to listen actively to one another. This means allowing each other to process your emotions and truly listening without thinking of your response when the other person is speaking. Know that break-ups are hard, and it’s normal to feel hurt, sad, and upset. If you or the other person notices that you are feeling too dysregulated to communicate in a healthy way, try taking some space to calm down before revisiting the conversation. While it can be really challenging to listen to the pain each person is experiencing as the relationship ends, it can also be an incredibly healing and empathetic experience.
When we talk about relationships, we usually focus on ways to build up and strengthen our connections with others, but what about when that relationship ends? We don’t tend to spend as much time talking about what to do in the face of a breakup. However, making sure we have healthy breakups is just as important as devoting our energy to building healthy relationships!
When a relationship ends, both people often feel a rollercoaster of emotions from pain and sadness, to confusion or relief. Though breakups are challenging and painful, they are also an inevitable part of the human experience. Most of us have probably been broken up with or been the one to end a relationship. It’s hard and emotional, but it can also be healthy!
This week, we’ll be sharing tips to help you have a healthy breakup whenever possible!
Today’s tip is to be honest and clear with your partner about why you’re ending the relationship. When you’re open and honest about your feelings, you can help them gain closure and clarity instead of leaving them wondering with “what ifs.” If it feels safe, it’s also important to communicate your feelings if you are on the other side of the break up. It’s okay to feel hurt and to communicate that in a respectful way. Both people deserve to feel heard and respected throughout the breakup.
As you plan your summer activities, remember to give yourself grace if things don’t go quite as planned. We are in uncharted waters, and it’s okay if plans fall flat or things don’t work out as expected. We’re all just trying to do our best and figure this out as we go. Be kind to yourself and your loved ones!
A great way to enjoy some family fun this summer is to get outside as much as possible! Not only does nature provide an opportunity to get some fresh air and a change of scenery, but it can also boost our physical, emotional, and mental health!
There are many outdoor activities and are both fun and safe. Try planting a vegetable, herb, or flower garden and work together to keep it healthy and growing throughout the summer. Going on walks, runs, and hikes are also a great way to have fun, get some exercise, bond as a family. Be sure to follow social distancing guidelines and take safety precautions. Finally, practice sports, dance, or do some yoga outside, whether in your backyard or at an open park!
Make sure to plan time for both you and your kids to connect with others socially this summer! Try planning virtual hangouts and playdates for your kids to connect with their friends and family members who don’t live with you. This can help them to continue to develop socially and emotionally, while also feeling connected to their peers. It’s also just as important for you to make time to connect with your friends! Try planning a virtual hangout, whether it’s a book club, happy hour, or just time to talk and catch up.