Short messages on Relationships issues from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
Your personal space is like an invisible bubble that surrounds you. If people move inside this bubble when they are talking to you, it may make you feel uncomfortable. The better you know the person you’re talking to, the smaller the bubble may be.
Knowing someone else’s personal motivation for wanting to do something allows you to work towards a win-win situation if you can match it to yours.
Criticising people doesn’t have the effect you may think it does. Over time, you may have noticed that most of the people whose faults you have gone to such trouble to correct have improved much less than you would have expected. Being less critical and focusing on what has gone ‘right’ is far more effective in getting people to improve what they are doing.
Your house rules may sound strict and unfair, but your parents have probably made those rules to help you, or for a good reason. If you feel like they are unfair, ask them to sit down with you to talk about the rules to help you understand them and the reason for them.
Someone may respond to you in a negative way you didn’t expect. Understand that the response may not have been caused by you, so instead of taking it personally, show understanding and compassion for their situation and see how you can help.
People may forget what you said, and they may forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
If you want to get the best gift for a friend or someone in your family, choose something that is meaningful to them – something based on their interests. Aim to make it memorable and unique; this shows you’ve taken care and spent the extra time and effort thinking of them.
Knowing and remembering the things which are important to other people shows you value them, and that you care.
If you feel you are too much in your own thoughts, let your world revolve around others for a day. See the world through their eyes; let their concerns be yours, and see if you can use your own skills to help with the problems that are concerning them.
Compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for the suffering or misfortune of another, including the desire to make it better.