1. Tell them how great they are and how much you appreciate them.

2. Be genuine and real in your relationships. Don’t pretend and wear a mask but share your true, authentic self.

3. Note, however, that being genuine doesn’t mean always dumping your garbage on those around you. Be respectful of their needs and feelings too – and recognise that we influence and affect others’ moods. That is, we can choose to either brighten or pollute the atmosphere.

4. Be a great listener. We feel loved and valued when others really listen to us (and demonstrate they’re listening through their nonverbal cues).   

5. Don’t try to fix, change and make them into different people. Instead, provide them with the freedom to simpy be themselves.

6. We don’t have to agree with, or respect, each others’ choices in order to have a good relationship with them. We can still be kind, and just agree to disagree.