Successful Relationships Reading Corner

In this week’s blog, we wrote about why it’s important to be kind and gentle in your relationships. These articles explain why they are such important qualities in relationships.

The Importance of Kindness “Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Science has now shown that devoting resources to others, rather than having more and more for yourself, brings about lasting well-being. Kindness has been found by researchers to be the most important predictor of satisfaction and stability in a marriage. Many colleges, including Harvard, are now emphasizing kindness on applications for admission.”

Gentleness is Strength: The 7 Habits of Highly Gentle People “There is nothing that shows your strength better than your gentleness. It might sound a little bit odd. It may come across as some kind of a contradiction, but if you think about it for just a minute it makes sense. ‘Most of us, I believe, admire strength. It’s something we tend to respect in others, desire for ourselves, and wish for our children. Sometimes, though, I wonder if we confuse strength and other words–like aggression and even violence. Real strength is neither male nor female; but is, quite simply, one of the finest characteristics that any human being can possess.’ – Mr Rogers”

How Kindness Can Strengthen Your Love “One of the main points of the … key to lasting relationships is kindness and generosity. Based on the research of Gottman and others, ‘kindness (along with emotional stability) is the most important predictor of satisfaction and stability in a marriage.’ When kindness is expressed in relationship, couples feel more care, consideration, love, and understanding. Kindness contributes to an overall feeling of goodwill and positivity. Partners are inspired and motivated to continue the pattern, which results in a positive cycle of love and generosity.”

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