Compassion in relationships is an emotion that we all experience at some point throughout our lives, but it’s not always given as much attention as other emotions. It’s one of those feelings that is characterized by heartfelt feelings of unconditional love, genuine sympathy, and a strong willingness to help others. To be able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and genuinely feel sympathy towards a situation makes the world a better place. Taking the time to take a step back and try to understand what someone is going through makes the difference between being a friend and a good friend or a lover and a good lover. Not only do friendships and relationships between family members thrive off of compassion, but it is important to inject compassion into romantic relationships too, even if your relationship is strictly sexual, such as a friends with benefits style of connection. Feelings of kindness and sincere love between two people can withstand the test of time if each participating party withholds strong, compassionate feelings towards one another. 

If you really want to know what your partner is going through, it is important to visualize yourself walking in their shoes. Not only can you try to picture this, but drawing upon your own similar experiences too, will help to show your partner that you truly care about their feelings. By looking at things from your partner’s perspective, you are able to provide the best advice and sympathy as you would like to receive it if it were you. Think about the times you needed that emotional support the most; well, it’s important to remember just how much your partner has been there for you in relationships. Be the person in your family friendship group and, more importantly, a relationship that is viewed as a natural emotional caregiver. 

It feels good! 

Expressing kindness, sympathy, and compassion towards your significant other is a way of showing those around you just how much you care. Just thinking about how your partner would respond to this loving care and kindness is enough to give you a feeling of unpretentious happiness. Being kind breeds positivity, and by genuinely caring for another person, you get a huge surge of endorphins because you are the person they lean on during a time of hardship. 

Being sensitive and considerate are traits that help your relationship grow and thrive during the good times and the bad. It will also help you get to know each other better. Imagine if your partner had been through a family bereavement; knowing the trigger points that may affect an emotional response, such as a sad song or memory, will help you to be the pillar of support they need when feeling these bouts of sadness. Developing your emotional awareness and emotional intelligence will not only help you mature your own understanding of relationships, but it will also help you to become the person you want to be. 

Selfish just won’t cut it! 

Relationships, and even singular sexual relationships, are a two-way street, but sometimes it’s important to put your partner first, especially if they have been going through a tough time. Being compassionate at a time when they need it the most is a way to truly express love for one another. Selfishness has no place when it comes to compassion! 

Sometimes it’s important to recognize selfish traits that may not be the most tasteful. Let’s put it this way, if your partner is taking the time to explain a situation that is making him or her unhappy, it’s crucial that you actually take the time to listen rather than jump in and talk about something that makes you unhappy! Taking the light off someone else when they are being vulnerable is a good place to start when working on your relationship, but there are also many other ways you can express compassion, and it doesn’t always have to be verbal. 

Meditate together! 

Let’s face it, life can be super stressful at times, so it’s important to take a step back and recognize what is important. Mental wellbeing is high on your list, or at least it definitely should be! If you or your partner have been stressed with work, going through a hard time, or just need some space, meditating together can be a great activity that will build your connection and help your mental wellbeing. Meditation is a great way to center your thoughts and hit the re-set button on your stress. Taking the time out to spend quality time together is a vital aspect of modern-day relationships. With the added stresses of modern technology, long hours at work, and a global pandemic, life can really get in the way of a happy relationship. 

Try practicing meditation to raise self-awareness, promote mental wellbeing, and increase your capacity to practice more compassion in relationships. 

Accept your differences. 

What works for you may not work for your partner. Understanding each other and realizing that there isn’t always a quick fix is just as crucial as the sympathy you try to give. Your beliefs, perspectives, and the way you address certain situations may differ from your partner’s—That’s part of the reason behind the broad realms contained within the different types of intimacy. 

Always remember to respect those differences and try not to force your beliefs on your partner, especially if you can see they are not reciprocated. A compassionate person has the ability to see through these differences and focus more on how they make the relationship more exciting and interesting without worrying about conflicts and misunderstandings. Moreover, compassion will teach you to understand and accept someone without judgment and prejudice.

Kindness is key

Being kind doesn’t cost a thing, and your words may have the ability to change someone’s day or emotional state in just a few sentences. When something bad happens, or you’re having an argument with your partner, always choose to be kind, even if you’re hurt or angry. You control the response, and you control the outcome, but sometimes it’s hard to realize this, especially in the height of a fight or argument. We never truly 100% know what is going on in someone else’s head, and we take for granted just how much kindness can do for someone who may be struggling. 

Kindness and compassion are one of the most important factors in a solid and long-lasting relationship or marriage. The approach to practicing self-compassion is very similar to the approach to practicing compassion towards others. Self-compassion is a brand of self-love and should be practiced by everyone. Ensuring that you protect your own emotional integrity is really important, as you will be less likely to lack compassionate feelings towards your partner. Self-love is just as important as giving love, and the same goes for sympathy and compassion. Compassion can be learned, adapted, and practiced all the time- it’s definitely not just a personality trait.

Of course, there are naturally more compassionate people than others, but each relationship should be built on a willingness to care for each other’s emotions and feelings. Compassion is a big deal in a relationship, as is practicing empathy, and people should make sure that time is spent listening, caring, and loving one another with genuine sympathy and kindness. Remember, kindness doesn’t cost a thing- it’s 100% free…. even though there isn’t enough of it in the world. Be the change!