To live in isolation is not really desirable nor beneficial. To some extent, it is even impossible. We all have this basic need to connect to someone and build meaningful relationships. Moreover, success will surely be easier to attain if you can manage to have a healthy relationship with the people around you. As a quote from the famous author, Helen Keller, goes, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

It is, therefore, a must to foster good relationships at home, in the workplace, and just about anywhere. However, meaningful relationships rarely happen in an instant. At the same time, there is no guarantee that a rewarding relationship will stay that way forever. Establishing and maintaining a positive relationship takes time and effort. Likewise, being good at relationships will require you to have the following traits:

Embrace Diversity

Do not expect to form a good relationship with anyone if you think everyone should have the same set of beliefs as you. This world will surely be boring if everyone looks, thinks, and feels the same. So appreciate how diversity makes everything more interesting and learn to respect other religion, culture, and race.

Be Genuine

Be honest in dealing with others because one can sense if you are not being true to yourself. If you want to gain the trust of others, pretending to be someone you are not will likely lead you nowhere. To be genuine also means you are not afraid to show anyone your weaker side. By showing vulnerability, others may see themselves in you which in turn may melt the wall that hinders you from connecting with others.

Treat Everyone as Equal

It will be hard for you to make any friends if you go around thinking that you are better than the rest. The same goes if you have low self esteem and regard yourself as someone not good enough to be associated with a certain group. Know your worth and treat others the way you want others to treat you.

Be Grateful & Show Appreciation

By giving importance to developing positive relationships with others, strangers can become your friends and acquaintances may become loyal supporters. Truth is, good people are not that easy to find. So having true people on your side is just like finding gems. They are the true treasures in life so do everything you can to keep them.

Have a Sense of Humor

Life is already tough enough on its own. So do not be surprised if no one would like to hang out to the most serious people in the room. Everything will start to look better if you choose to cheer up. So loosen up and do not be afraid to have fun. You can lighten a work load or uplift someone’s mood with a little humor.

At the end of the day, our relationships make our journey in this world more worthwhile. In addition, the impact we make in our interactions with others will be one of the most important legacies we will leave behind. So do not underestimate the importance of building relationships and do your best to nurture existing ones.