Building Hope Counseling Services

Being in a relationship with someone, whether it’s familial, romantic, or platonic, can have moments of stress and disconnect. Sometimes it’s something big that breaks our relationships apart, and sometimes it’s a million little things that result in you feeling so far from that person you love.

So, what do you do when the distance between you and the one you love is growing faster than you can control?

Here are five ways to strengthen your relationships and bring you closer to your loved ones:

1. Thorn, Bud, Rose – This is one of my favorite dinner conversation starters. Thorn to practice vulnerability: What was the most challenging part of your day? Bud to get us excited for each other: What is something you’re looking forward to in the coming days? Rose to practice gratitude together: What was the best thing that happened to you today? This game is an easy way to learn more about the day-to-day experiences of those that you hold dear.  
2. Play – Turn your phone off and spend an evening laughing with your loved ones! I prefer collaborative or team games to competitive options but this, of course, is a personal decision. If you have larger group you can play something like charades or if it’s just you and your partner you can play a card game like Exploding Kittens (which is a favorite in my house). It’s not about winning! It’s about taking the time to create a memory.  
3. Get Outside – Want to get closer but the tension is so thick, you don’t know what to say anymore? Spending time together in nature is a great way to physically let go of some of that frustration that you’ve been holding on to. Being outside is naturally grounding, so if you’ve been spending a lot of time sniping at each other, going outside might ease some of that uncomfortable energy.
4. Create – Paint night, anyone? Grab your favorite creative materials and get to making! Whether you’re an artistic family or you can’t even draw a straight line, there are so many ways to create. Creativity can support collaboration towards a common goal and provide opportunities to practice new communication styles.
5. Therapy – Have you run out of ways to tell your mom that she’s hurting your feelings or examples to share with your husband so he can finally get what you’re upset about? A trained mental health professional (helllllo!) can help you to improve your communication skills and assist you in getting to the heart of what’s going. Therapy isn’t easy, but sometimes difficult things are necessary for survival.

Ultimately, the key to nurturing any relationship is to invest time and effort into understanding and connecting with one another. Whether it be through engaging conversations, shared laughter over games, peaceful walks in nature, collaborative creative projects, or seeking professional guidance, each of these activities is a step towards strengthening the bonds with those we cherish.

Take a moment today to recognize the importance of those small, intentional moments that bring us closer and treasure the journey of growing together.

Happy Healing!

Mikaela’s Playlist – Songs to bring you closer to the one you love.

1. I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
2. Love on Top – Beyonce
3. Still Into You – Paramore
4. Wildflowers – Tom Petty
5. Faithfully – Journey