4 Simple Ways to Keep Your Relationship Strong and Healthy

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart - Helen Keller​.

The relationships we form with those around us can either hurt us or heal us, to a large part depending on the health of them (and also whether we let them contribute to our own health or harm us).

While one would think that having healthy relationships is based upon the bonds you establish with the other people in your lives, it actually has a lot more to do with how strong and secure you are as an individual. Healthy relationships are less about what's going on around you and more about what's going on within you.

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Once you've acknowledged this, it's very important to apply the following ten steps to ensure that your relationships stay as healthy as possible:

1. Know Your Boundaries and Expectations

This one is especially crucial if you're someone who tends to put other people on pedestals. If you're unsure about what your boundaries and expectations are, you're likely to end up projecting your own insecurities and baggage onto people who neither want nor deserve it.

This is an all too common occurrence in relationships, where one person will give far more than they receive because they either don't know when to stop giving or they feel like they have something to make up for (i.e., they're expecting something in return).

You should never expect anything from anyone, and you shouldn't feel like you owe someone anything either. All relationships (and people) need to be on the same page for this one to work, but it's an important first step. You can't know what your boundaries are unless you set some expectations as well.

2. Do Not Attach Yourself to Outcomes

This one is probably most important when it comes to romantic relationships. If you go into a relationship with the goal of "fixing" someone or changing them in some way, you're inevitably setting yourself (and them) up for failure. We all have issues and baggage that we need to deal with on our own, and we also have to take responsibility for what we attract into our lives.

This one is a bit trickier if you have kids together, as there are ways of being supportive but not controlling or smothering. You can offer words of encouragement or a helping hand, but you shouldn't try to do other people's work for them.

3. Practice Non-Attachment

Again, this is more of an issue in romantic relationships, where people can sometimes feel like their partner is somehow an extension of themselves. You must remember that you are not the same person and that two separate entities cannot be joined together as one (at least not if your goal is to maintain a healthy relationship).

All too often in romantic relationships, people tend to get their sense of self from the other person. If they're not being fulfilled by you or meeting your needs, they'll go elsewhere. They'll leave you for someone else who might be more attentive and less critical. When this happens, it's important not to take it personally.

Human beings are always going to have a wandering eye and a need for variety, so if you're someone who loves deeply and intensely, it's probably wise not to put all your eggs in one basket. You can still love others from a distance while allowing them the space they need to grow as an individual.

4. Always Communicate Your Intentions

If you want something from somebody, don't expect them to read your mind. This is especially important in romantic relationships, where people can become bitter and resentful if they feel like they're doing all the giving while getting nothing in return.

Relationships are meant to be mutual, so make sure you always communicate your intentions clearly and without holding anything back. Of course, it's also a good idea to share your feelings honestly with the people you care about as well.