Over time, we get used to the things we have and the people we are with. You start to take them for granted. That's when people may start to focus on what's wrong with their partner or forget why they fell in love in the first place, they may even look elsewhere.

However, grateful people are more satisfied in their relationships and feel closer to one another. When you are grateful, you stay focused and appreciative of your partner's good qualities instead of taking them for granted or harping on the little things.

Negative emotions like stress and anxiety can keep us focused on ourselves. It's hard to connect with another person when we are in a self-focused state. Neuroscientists have found that people who meditate regularly have more positive emotions overall, which in turn is linked to slower aging at the cellular level. Meditating, though it can seem like a solo activity, actually makes you a more upbeat partner. As I mentioned in my last post, partners who are more positively energizing have better relationships because their very presence is life-giving and supportive.

Isn't it ironic that it's usually the people you love the most who have to bear the brunt of your stress: a short fuse, bad moods, passive aggression. Over time, this kind of pattern can lead to a negative atmosphere in the home and create distance between partners.

If you can take responsibility for curbing your stress, you not only will curb your own stress but also help preserve your relationships with your loved ones.

It's easy for partners to drift apart, especially if they are busy balancing work and children, have hectic schedules, and have little time to spend together. A chasm can grow almost imperceptibly at first until it becomes painfully obvious. Here again, meditation can help. Connecting to yourself, it turns out, boosts your connection to others in significant ways.

Meditation improves well-being but also strengthens your feelings of connection with others. It can help people feel more connected and empathic in minutes.

Self-care is far from selfish, especially when it comes to meditation. The time you take to settle your mind not only improves your well-being but that of everyone around you, strengthening your relationships.

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”

-Brené Brown

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

-Buddha