The Gift of Giving Leads to Forever
According to a new study by psychologists at University of Rochester, compassion is essential if you are seeking happily ever after with your significant other. While this may sound obvious, there is actual science to back this up. Performing acts of kindness has been proven to benefit both partner’s emotional health, which ultimately leads to a long-term, stable relationship. Even acts of kindness that go unnoticed make a difference.
Now the question is, are you the giver or receiver in this relationship? Yes, I mean that in an appropriate, non-sexual way. The reason for this question is that sometimes we get caught only receiving and rarely giving back. Some people blame their personalities and claim it is not in them to be randomly sweet, but we are not talking about big gestures. Compassion is anything you do for someone else without being told to do it. It can be anything from cleaning up your partner’s mess or picking up dinner for two on the way home from work. A lot of times it is things we already do without realizing we are doing it for our other half.
When all the giving is one-sided, friction in the relationship is bound to happen. After awhile, the giver will realize they aren’t benefiting from the relationship at all, and will either leave the situation entirely or remain unhappy and trapped. If you truly love someone, you should want to give back. It may not come naturally, as some people get absorbed by their work or distracted by life, but if the issue arises you should be able to acknowledge the problem and find a solution. Receiving a random act of kindness is a wonderful feeling — so shouldn’t both people in a relationship get the experience?
Here are a couple simple ways to show compassion in your relationship:
Say I love you
Literally, the little things count! So many couples forget or get into the bad habit of not exchanging I love yous as often as they should. Those three little words go a long way and can make your partner’s day a thousand times better. So make it a habit and start exchanging those words at the end of each call or randomly in passing. It will do so much good with so little effort.
Thank you works too
If your other half is giving, the least you can do is say thank you. This shows your partner that you care and that their act of kindness didn’t go unnoticed. Plus, it is just common courtesy to do so.
‘Just because’ gift
Every now and then, you should surprise your significant other with a small gift for no reason. It can be anything from something they have been eyeing for a while to something small like ordering them their favorite food. Whenever you surprise your partner, it is bound to make them happy. And who knows, this might motivate them to surprise you right back sooner than you think.
Date night
Planning a date night is a great way to show your partner you love them. Whether it is a trip to the movies or cooking a romantic dinner for them, it shows you care enough to go out of your way and make plans. With compassion, cost doesn’t matter. You can spend as little or as much as you want. Your partner will still appreciate the effort no matter how big or small.
Compassion should be second nature in every relationship. If it isn’t, don’t panic. Start recognizing ways to show your love, without expecting something in return. Receiving is great, but giving is truly the real gift.
Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Christina aspires to be a public relations professional in a big city after graduation from James Madison University. In her free time when she’s not blogging away about dating and relationships, Christina loves to go shopping, watch Netflix and play with every puppy that crosses her path.