Your loved ones mean the world to you
People we hold closest are the ones who matter the most in our life. They are our treasure, our support system. Yet we take them for granted. Living with them day in and day out, we assume most gestures as ‘understood’ and leave the simplest things undone.
Busy and self-absorbed and motivated to pursue our own goals, further our own needs, and solve our problems, we have little time (and inclination) to make them feel special.
It doesn’t take much to make someone feel you genuinely care about them. You just need to be a little sensitive and make a conscious effort to go beyond the superficial and let your actions speak louder than words.
Here are 18 ways you can show your loved ones you care.
1. Show Genuine Interest In TheirLife.
Be interested in what’s going on with them. Learn about their work, hobbies, and passions.
Pay attention to what they are enthusiastic about, talk to them about it, and see how you could be of help. It is not only the easiest way to connect with them but also the best way to make them feel you value and truly care about them.
2. Have Empathy For Them.
Feel what others are feeling and be mindful of their thoughts. Putting yourself in their shoes will give you a perspective of what they are going through and this little gesture will go a long way to reassure them that you understand them.
3. Help Them Further Their Goals AndReach Their Full Potential.
For most people, their life goals are their topmost priority. If you get an inkling that a loved one is experiencing trouble reaching their goals, don’t wait for them to ask you for assistance.
Contribute in all possible ways that you can. Help them get over their limiting beliefs and mental barriers and perceived limits. Boost their confidence, motivate them to keep going, strive for more and be the best they can be.
4. Be There When They Need You.
It is important to make your loved ones feel secure especially when they are upset, have faced failure, or experienced hardships in life. Be there for them at that moment because this is when they need you the most.
Comfort them, reassure them and offer your unconditional support. It can make a big difference in their life and will give them the strength to bounce back from the setbacks.
5. Help Them Solve Their Problems And Resolve Issues.
Everyone has their set of problems that hassle them daily. Spend time with your loved ones to get an insight into their problems and see how you can help make their life simpler and easier.
Related: How To Develop AProblem-solving mindset
6. Don’t Judge Them.
No one is perfect. Everyone has flaws, falters, or errs sometimes or the other. So avoid judging and criticizing them. Practice patience and tolerance; accept them the way they are.
On your part, see how you can help them improve and add value to their life. Look beyond their mistakes, appreciate their positives, raise their self-esteem, and make them feel good about themselves. This will go a long way in strengthening the bond and win over their confidence.
Related: How To Improve Self-Esteem
7. Celebrate Their Successes.
Show your loved ones they matter. Acknowledge their hard work, congratulate them on their success and celebrate small victories with them when they achieve their goals- big or small.
Genuinely feel happy that they have made progress towards their vision. Sincerely admiring their efforts and commending their work will keep their morale high and motivate them to reach higher goals.
8. Respect Their Time AndPriorities.
Understand that each one has their priorities and work according to their schedule. It is inappropriate to disturb others when they are focusing and working on something important.
Also calling up or dropping in at odd hours should be avoided. Be punctual when you are expected to see them. Observing these basic etiquettes will communicate to them that you care for them and value their time.
9. Don’t Intrude Into TheirPrivacy.
No matter how close you are to your family and friends, never cross the line and intrude into their privacy. Respect boundaries. Don’t ask direct and personal questions if they are unwilling to share personal things with you. Avoid probing at all costs and be careful not to invade their personal space.
10. Give Them Positive And HonestFeedback.
You would be unfair to your loved ones if you only show them their positive side. To show you sincerely care and want to help them better themselves, you need to show them their blind spots. But don’t bluntly pick up their flaws or make fun of their shortcomings.
Gently point out their mistakes and weaknesses and make suggestions to overcome them. A few words from your side can prove to be valuable for them.
11. Share Their Burden OfResponsibilities.
Everyone has their hands full when it comes to working. But once in a while take time out and lend a helping hand. Assist family and friends with their stuff.
Help them with a difficult task, run an errand or take care of some of the things they need to do. Showing your eagerness to share their burden of responsibility will demonstrate your genuine interest in them.
12. Pep Them Up When They AreFeeling Down.
No matter how strong a person is, each one has their low times when feelings of depression and emptiness sneak in. This is the time when you should be around your near and dear ones and cheer them up.
Distract them from those agonizing thoughts and help them shift their focus from negative to seeing positives in their life. Help them count their blessings. It is a good way to pull them come out of their melancholic state of mind.
13. Express Your Gratitude When They Do Something For You.
It doesn’t cost anything to visit a loved one or a treasured friend and thank them for what they did for you.
Expressing your gratitude and appreciating their support would speak volumes about you and convey to them that you acknowledge their help and feel grateful for all they have done for you on different occasions.
14. Encourage Them To Share TheirPain With You.
When you see your loved ones overwhelmed by suffering or a personal loss, don’t ignore or adopt a silent approach. Talk to them, comfort them, encourage them to share their pain with you, and let them know you are there with them in their emotional crisis.
Your comforting attitude and positive mindset will have a calming effect, help them come to terms with life, lessen their grief and assist in the healing process.
15. Provide A Listening Ear.
Sometimes pent-up feelings can lead to stress, anxiety, fear, and feeling of insecurity. To help your loved ones and show your concern, let them express themselves uninhibited.
Give them your undivided attention and hear them out. This will help you gain their perspective and let them know you understand their situation.
16. Hold Their Hand And Make ThemFeel Good.
Many times, holding a loved one’s hand is all you need to do to make them feel special and secure. They will feel your warmth. This is one of the easiest non-verbal ways of expressing your love, affection, and care for them.
17. Let Them Know They Make YouFeel Good.
Everyone likes to know they mean something to someone. Take time out to communicate to your family and friends what they mean to you.
Express your genuine appreciation by telling them that you enjoy their company, love spending time with them, and look forward to meeting them. This will make them feel loved and cherished.
18. Spend Time With Them When They Feel Lonely.
If a loved one is going through a rough patch and feeling low, register your presence by being with them. Talk to them about old times, relive favorite memories, go out, or plan a fun activity together.
Spending quality time together will help them get off loneliness, lighten their mood and make them feel better.
No matter where you reach and what you accomplish in life, your loved ones are the only people who will make your life positive, add meaning to it, give you a purpose to carry on, and bring joy and happiness into your world.
So don’t wait for the right time, to show them that you care; do it today.
Pay attention to those who matter to you. Let them know they are worth your time. Be mindful of their needs and feelings. Make sincere efforts to get close to them, understand them, and make them feel special.
It’s not hard to make your loved ones feel special. Simple, thoughtful ways can turn their life around and go a long way to let them know they are important and mean the world to you.
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world.Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
-Margaret Mead
Know the author:
Dr. Roopleen
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