Making a relationship work is hard. That’s a given. But when it comes to making them work, there are some things you can do that will help strengthen your relationship, even if they don’t seem like they’re working at the moment. Here are five ways you can make sure your relationship lasts:
1. Respect
Respect is the foundation of any relationship. It enables you to give and receive, fostering kindness, and it’s the only way a relationship will last long enough for either party to experience hurt or burnout.
Respect means that we hold each other in high regard; we don’t devalue each other based on our differences or see ourselves as being better than or worse than anyone else (we have our own values). Respect also means acknowledging another person’s right to privacy to feel safe with who they are without judgment from others.
2. Communication
Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. It’s one of the most important things you can do for your partner and yourself. If you communicate effectively with your partner, many benefits result from this. You will have more intimacy and closeness in your relationship and better communication skills overall.
However, some negative consequences come along with poor communication skills in relationships, including arguments over who did what wrong or who should pay for dinner sometimes!
3. Trust
Trust is a two-way street. You cannot give someone something, but it must be earned. You must make sure your partner trusts you and knows how to trust themselves.
People learn to trust through consistent actions, like being reliable, over time. Lack of trust eventually breeds problems in any relationship, as it fosters resentment among partners who no longer wish to be involved with each other.. After all, they can no longer trust each other.
4. Commitment
A commitment to the relationship means that you are committed to each other, which is a big part of a healthy relationship. You can’t expect your partner to make good decisions for them–you need to do so yourself! If you want your partner to try something new or go on an adventure with you, you need to be willing and able to.
Additionally, if one person desires something different from the other, they should openly discuss it beforehand to avoid hurt feelings later on when things don’t go as planned, possibly because someone didn’t communicate their thoughts beforehand or at all.
5. Lean toward each other, not away.
Don’t pull away from the other person, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. We often forget about this in relationships: it’s not just about giving and taking but also about making space for the other person’s needs and desires. If someone is pushing against your boundaries–for example, by asking too much of you or expecting too much from their partner–then step back so they can come into balance with themselves and their relationship (and vice versa).
Don’t be afraid to say no when necessary; if someone does this more often than not without explanation, it might mean they aren’t feeling heard by their partner during a conversation or interaction. Knowing the difference between someone trying to push your boundaries and someone who simply wants more of you is important. If it’s the latter, listen to them and discover what they need from you. You might be surprised by what they have to say!
Read: Romantic Questions To Ask Your Girlfriend
You need to work at it, but it will work.
No one is perfect, and it’s perfectly fine if you’re not. If you know that your partner has done something wrong and are willing to work on it, then there is hope for a successful partnership. Remember that relationships take time, effort, and communication; they aren’t magic–even if they seem like they should be.
Conclusion
We haven’t listed these five things as magic formulas for perfecting your relationship, but they can help kick-start you on the right track. All five qualities play a key role in a healthy relationship—and investing time in them before making serious romantic commitments is worthwhile. It took us a while to recognize our own good qualities and how they balanced our partner’s shortcomings! So, don’t lose hope yet.
The most important thing is to have fun together and cherish each other’s company as much as possible. If you’re committed to finding happiness in this new endeavor (or any!), these tips can hopefully elevate your love life from ordinary to extraordinary!
