Connections are what keep the world turning. Positive, nurturing, meaningful, and joyful relationships offer us some of the most enriching experiences possible. Think of your affectionate partner who shares everything with you, the best friend who resonates with you deeply, and the colleagues who value you and encourage you to reach your potential—they infuse our lives with happiness.
However, relationships can also lead to significant distress. Nothing hurts more than a fractured relationship, especially one that becomes intensely problematic.
Therefore, it’s essential for us to take proactive measures to maintain the momentum in our relationships. By investing our utmost efforts into these connections, we increase our chances of reaping the most profound rewards from them.
Traits of a joyful, healthy relationship
There are three key components that, when practiced over time, help build the kinds of relationships you truly yearn for, the ones you’ve always envisioned. The mnemonic Z.I.P. will help you remember these three crucial aspects that can enhance any and every relationship.
1. Joyful relationships possess ZEST.
Relationships ought to be enjoyable. Consider this: don’t healthy connections start with a plethora of joyful experiences? Whether it’s dining out or attending a sports event, fun is a vital element of your relationship. It acts as the adhesive that keeps you united.
However, as time progresses, the element of fun often diminishes, becoming overshadowed by the need to complete various tasks, no matter their nature.
To rejuvenate the relationship and infuse some excitement back into it, reintroduce the concept of “zest.”
What can you do to reignite the zest if it seems to have faded? Reflect on a specific relationship in your life. What were the fun activities you engaged in at its onset? Make a commitment to revisit those activities now—while also exploring some new enjoyable experiences together—and watch your relationship rejuvenate.
2. Nurture deeper INTIMACY for a robust relationship.
This means taking your connection to a more profound level.
It doesn’t imply that you need to start participating in group cuddles with coworkers or hold emotional sessions where tears flow abundantly. Every happy and mutually satisfying relationship possesses a certain level of depth that lends it significance. And isn’t that the essence we seek in our relationships?
At the onset of a relationship, you both invest time in revealing yourselves, sharing backgrounds, interests, and dislikes. There’s a profound sense of fulfillment that keeps the relationship thriving—it’s because you appreciate who they are, and they cherish understanding you.
But then, a shift occurs. We reach a certain threshold, and the quest for depth halts. We cease to share our emotions, joys, aspirations, and fears. Instead, we slip into a routine where the daily grind overshadows genuine connection, leading to mere coexistence.
While not every encounter needs to delve deeply—sometimes just enjoying lighthearted fun is sufficient—it’s still vital to foster regular intimate interactions. After all, meaningful, joyful relationships flourish when others accept and appreciate us for our true selves.
Consider the relationships you’d like to enhance. Dedicate some time in the upcoming weeks and months to engage more deeply—to allow the other person a glimpse into your inner world. You can’t compel them to open up, nor can you bluntly declare, “Let’s have an intimate chat,” as that might seem forced. However, you can choose to reveal more about who you are; perhaps this will inspire them to reciprocate.
You could shield yourself from deeper connections, but then your relationships may remain surface-level, leaving you with an emptiness that craves more. Alternatively, you can initiate the process of deepening your connections and watch them transform positively.
3. Joyful relationships embrace a shared PURPOSE.
The most impactful relationships are those that are united by a common purpose and mutual vision for what can be achieved.
When individuals share a common goal, they feel a sense of unity, akin to being part of a team. Reflect on your strongest connections. Aren’t they often anchored in at least one shared goal or aspiration? Now, think about those weaker bonds—can you recall if they once thrived on a common purpose that has since dissolved?
For the relationships you wish to nurture, invest some time in establishing a joint purpose. Sit down with that person and express your desire to pursue shared goals together.
As you work towards these aspirations, you’ll witness your relationship grow stronger in ways you never thought possible.
