Relationship Counseling NYC: 5 Reasons to Be A Kinder Partner, Friend, & Family Member

It’s admirable to be thoughtful and full of goodwill. Yet, it is often tough to connect meaningfully in the best of times. So, when things feel stressful or up in the air, being with people may feel like a challenge. And kindness may not come easily.

Still, human beings are built for relationships. We long to connect. We’re wired to belong. Thus, making the effort to reach out for relationship counseling and actively seek healthy connections is worth the work. 

That said, if you struggle to create and maintain bonds that fulfill and enrich your life, you might wonder where to start. 

Here’s why kindness still matters and how it benefits you to make the first kind move. 

Relationship Counseling NYC: Why Kindness Matters

Relationships have taken a hit in recent years. We’ve been distanced by a pandemic and divided by our politics. We’ve been dragged through disasters and faced financial fluctuation. Most of us have powered through any number of personal problems. So, if all of that has pushed your connections to the limit or tested your patience in social situations, you aren’t alone.

To foster the art of kindness is at the heart of feeling less alone. The idea is to purposefully ignite helpfulness, generosity, and consideration between you and someone else, with no strings attached. 

Imagine how your relationships might look if you set the course of your interactions with more openness, appreciation, and gratitude.

Kindness can reset relationships that are indifferent or contemptuous. It can draw people in and assure them that they are seen, heard, and safe just as they are. Who wouldn’t want that?

Of course, you may feel awkward or vulnerable initially. Yet, valuing and celebrating others is as good for you as it is for others.

Consider five ways kindness can build bonds and promote the emotional connections you’ve been longing for:

Relationship Counseling NYC: How Kindness Helps

1. Kindness is contagious

A sincere act of kindness spreads quickly and lingers longer than any virus. So layer it on. Don’t skimp.  Kindness can take a wide variety of forms. What counts most? Your intention and authenticity. Don’t do it to be thanked. Don’t do it for social media likes. Do it for the other person. 

Whether you shower kindness on your partner, a blind date, or a stranger on the train, stay present and enjoy feeling the connection blossom. Chances are, you’ll want to keep kindness going. The strength of your relationships will benefit too.

2. Kindness boosts mental and physical health

Kind people tend to be healthier people. Why? Kindness has been shown to improve mood and focus thoughts and activity outward. Essentially, it provides a self-esteem and confidence boost that helps ward off the rumination that contributes to depression, anxiety, and chronic stress. 

In addition, the physical maladies that accompany mental health conditions decrease as well. Stress hormones, like cortisol, have less negative impact on blood pressure, digestion, sleep, sexual health, etc. when you employ kindness routinely.

3. Kindness is attractive

Have you ever met up for a date who looked great online but their treatment of you, the waiter, or the Uber driver changed your perception of them? The truth is, kindness has a powerful impact on physical attractiveness and likeability.

Unkind people are generally not people we seek to engage long-term. In fact, unkind people are often considered undesirable. Obviously, not a relationship goal or how we want to think of ourselves!

4. Kindness cultivates positivity and praise

Did you know that negative interactions can be interrupted by intentional kindness? Often, when a loved one or acquaintance recognizes that you are being kind toward them, a shift happens even if you aren’t getting along. A kind gesture or show of compassion fosters a sense of possibility and positivity. 

The interaction gets a boost. Then, you can both back away from the conflict and allow communication and mutual praise to restore goodwill between you.

5. Kindness keeps relationships secure and supportive

The voluntary nature of kindness goes a long way in reducing relationship insecurity and neglect. Seeking ways to be thoughtful and generous naturally reduces times spent mired in resentment or insensitivity. The spirit of the relationship is more respectful and attentive. 

Whether you’re dating or deeply committed, kindness is a reliable relationship tool for communicating that the other person feels accepted and belongs in the interaction with you. You can still challenge each other, ask questions, and disagree.  Your kindness simply says, “You matter. I’m seeking you out. Our worlds are connected.”  

Relationship Counseling NYC: Cultivate Kindness and Closer Connections Through Therapy

The point here? Kindness is good for you. It’s good for those you care about and those who could eventually become very important to you. 

Kindness is also a choice. It can overcome hostility, skepticism, or criticism that might have become an automatic response. 

Do you need help cultivating kindness? It’s okay if it doesn’t come naturally at first. Simply seek support and encouragement from a safe and skilled therapist. Doing so might just be the kindest thing you do for yourself.

The Relationship Suite

Relationship counseling can make connections much more productive and fulfilling. With support, you can give yourself and others a break and discover what you need in relationships with yourself and others.

To learn more about how to have healthy connections, please  Contact Us at The Relationship Suite. We help you identify and work through whatever is getting in the way of finding peace, comfort, and lasting forgiveness.

We’re a group of skilled therapists specializing in relationship counseling. We provide individual and couples therapy. To find out more about Relationship Counseling NYC CLICK HERE.

Since Covid, we have been working with couples via Online Counseling in New York, New York City including Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island, South Hampton, East Hampton, Montauk. To schedule a complimentary consultation, click HERE.

We also provide Virtual Counseling in New Jersey, Hoboken, Jersey City, Princeton, Chatham, Morris, Westfield, Union, Bergen County, Colts Neck, Tenafly. Schedule a complimentary consultation by clicking HERE

Contact Us HERE for a complimentary consultation.