5 Ways You Can Change Your Life While You're Healing Your Heart

We all encounter some relationships that are harder to navigate than others. Occasionally, we suffer from ups and downs in all our relationships, from friends to family to significant others.

We are constantly trying to get along with everyone. More often than not, this attempt fails miserably.

In its wake, we are left with sadness and anger. In fact, we may find ourselves confronted by a strained relationship we desperately want to fix.

And sometimes, the relationship is worth fixing. Other times, it's not. However, when a broken relationship involves family or longtime friends, we may want to consider moving forward by trying to mend the relationship.

Here are just a few suggestions that'll help you fix any broken or strained relationships in your life:

1. Communication is key.

It doesn't matter what led to your broken relationship. All that matters moving forward is you take the time to truly listen to the other person. Try to take yourself out of the argument that led you to this strained relationship.

In fact, when you're able to fully step back and really listen to what the other person is saying, you put the other person's feelings before your own.

In turn, you acknowledge the other person's feelings toward the situation, and can begin to move forward.

2. Practice forgiveness.

Although it's much harder to actually practice forgiveness, it can completely change all your relationships. In fact, practicing forgiveness on a regular basis can greatly impact your mood in a positive way.

In order to forgive another person, you have to really allow yourself to feel your emotions, so you can begin to move past any hurt or pain the person may have caused you.

Once you're able to move past the hurt and pain, your relationship can begin to rebuild itself.

3. Keep it honest.

While you're mending your relationship, it's crucial for you and the other person involved to continue being honest with one another. The only way you will ever be able to move forward is if you're brutally honest.

But it may be incredibly difficult.

But once you get past your fears of showing up authentically as yourself – flaws and all – you can start to rebuild the relationship again. This new relationship will be even sweeter than before, all because you were real, true and honest.

4. Take responsibility for your role.

Both parties involved need to take responsibility for their part in causing the relationship to strain or break. Once you acknowledge your own actions and role in the relationship, you can begin to see the relationship for what it is.

It's a relationship that now deserves some extra love and attention. In fact, once you begin to look at the relationship from a new perspective, you can move forward and let go of any excuses or explanations you've been holding on to.

5. Practice patience.

Patience really is a virtue, as clichéd as it is. Whenever you embark on the journey of fixing a broken relationship, you have to understand it won't be fixed overnight.

It will require plenty of patience and time to restore the broken relationship.

Trust must be rebuilt. In fact, giving people the time they need to rebuild trust is one of the only ways you can fully heal a broken relationship.

Although it is a difficult process, mending a broken relationship is a critical aspect of your well-being and overall happiness.

Putting forth the effort to fix a broken or strained relationship allows us to grow as individuals. In fact, we develop compassion and empathy as we begin to heal old relationships.

So, go forth and tackle those difficult relationships... and learn some more about yourself in the process.