Could the way you respond to good news be damaging your relationships?

When we think of being a good partner, parent, or friend one of the first things that spring to mind is being supportive when things go wrong or when times are tough. We pride ourselves on how well we help our loved ones through the sh*t that life slings at us, which is of course hugely important, but did you know that how you respond to good news could actually be damaging your relationships?

We rarely think about how we show up for other people when things go well and life is good but recent research shows that how we respond to life´s joys and triumphs, especially when others share theirs,  can be just as important as how we show up for life´s struggles. 

​Dr Shelly Gable a professor of Psychology at the University of California whose research focuses on motivation, close relationships and positive emotions has discovered how we respond to our loved ones when they share the good stuff has a huge impact on our relationships, often to their detriment. She identified 4 response styles, 3 of which negatively affect our interpersonal relationships and only one that strengthens them. So, if you would like to build more closeness, intimacy, and trust in your relationships it might be time to pay attention to how you respond to good news when it´s shared with you. 

Read More