5 Ways How Mindfulness Can Enhance Your Relationship

While love is so often seen as essential to life as breathing, circumstances and lack of time lead to us becoming careless about how we express ourselves to our partners. Mindfulness in romantic relationships helps to change our perspective and communicate better, thus making for a happier, more harmonious relationship. But, due to the stress of life in general, we often tend to ignore the range of benefits of mindfulness in relationships.

And, even if you do want to practice it, it may be easier said than done, especially if you don’t know where to start. If you are willing to love better with mindfulness in relationships, it is important to start slow. Start with some self-reflection. How are you as a partner? Are you mindful of the present, aware of your loved ones’ needs? If not, where are you falling short? And how has that been affecting your personal relationships?

# Connecting better

Removing distractions is one of the vital mindfulness activities for couples trying to incorporate this practice in their relationships. To engage with your partner mindfully, you need to put aside your gadgets (mobile phones and laptops), switch off the television, shut the book you are reading, and focus solely on them.

You must listen keenly to what he or she is saying. You can also practice active listening by asking questions. Of course, a couple can connect even in amicable silence. But, when your partner is trying to communicate with you, it is important to practice the art of listening without feeling the need to judge, state one’s opinions, and offer unwarranted advice.

# Making eye contact

Can mindfulness improve relationships? Yes, indeed, and with small, everyday practices such as making eye contact. When you are mindfully engaging with your partner you tend to make eye contact. This shows interest in your partner and what he or she is saying. Your partner will feel valued.

This is also why it is important to practice mindfulness for relationship anxiety. If your partner is prone to feeling insecure or suspicious, your complete mindful focus on them – coupled with the eye contact – will help put those beastly fears to rest. Couples that practice mindfulness in relationships can feel connected to one another even across a room full of other people with something as simple as meaningful eye contact.

# Speaking mindfully

Mindfulness in romantic relationships means having mindful conversations. This takes place only when partners are open-minded and accepting of each other’s points of view. Also, if you are mindful, you think before you speak and are able to put across your thoughts and views clearly and rationally.

Practicing mindfulness in relationships means that you would have to be open to listening to the person in front of you without jumping at the first chance to get defensive, even when they are accusing you of something. Even arguments turn healthy when you are willing to listen.

# Diffusing tension

Mindfulness enables us to ‘respond’ instead of ‘reacting’ during an argument, according to Ririi. When we react it is often in anger or with some other strong emotion. “Mindfulness gives us time to choose our response. We are more careful about our words and actions thereby causing minimum damage to the relationship,” she says.

In other words, you are far more thoughtful and considerate and can steer clear of saying or doing things that could ruin your relationship. Practicing mindfulness is basically like taking time out before deciding to form an opinion on a matter. It allows you to slow down and truly focus on what is being said without feeling the need to defend yourself or counter it with your own opinion.

# Feeling thankful

When you focus on the present, you will appreciate the small things that your partner does that make you happy. Whether it is the hot cup of green tea or that shoulder massage, feel thankful for those moments and voice your appreciation. After all, mindfulness in intimate relationships is all about small gestures.