Three ways to renew your relationships this spring

April 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Closets aren't the only thing that can be due for a good cleaning around this time of year.

Relationships also can benefit from a good brushing out, dusting off, and wiping clean, says Stephanie Icy Lewis, author of Experiencing True Love.

"Our hearts can get overcrowded with lots of negative emotions, bad experiences, and hurtful disappointments," she says. "Taking time to clean out this old hurt can give us a new perspective and renew our relationships."

Lewis gives three tips for providing a spring cleaning to your relationships:

1. Brush out the cobwebs of lack of gratitude. It's easy to take certain things for granted that others do for us. We can do this so much that we no longer see or even acknowledge their kind acts. Remember to acknowledge even the small acts that your mate or significant other does for you.
2. Dust off your compassion. Often we are toughest on those we care about. We cut other people slack, but when our loved ones do the same things, we are quick to judge. Try to be more compassionate and empathetic when your mate or significant other makes a mistake.
3. Wipe clean any hard feelings. If you're going to have a successful relationship going forward, you have to let go of any hard feelings, resentment, and anger you are holding against your mate. If you've said you have forgiven your mate, then your actions must show it. And if you haven't been able to forgive, then it's time to discuss the matter honestly and see what it will take to help you move forward, if you can.

Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. You can use these three spring cleaning tips to refresh your relationship.