But this is what a relationship is based on, two people compromising their happiness for someone else, and yet relishing in the fact that they’re compromising for their lover’s happiness. Of course, it doesn’t sound that glamorous when you put it like that, but that’s what it is.
Table of Contents
1. Build your compatibility
Falling in love may seem spontaneous, but as the relationship grows, you’ll start to realize that the spontaneous love starts to flicker and transition into a mature love that is based on understanding and compatibilty
Can you really live with each other? You may have different perspectives and interests, but can you find a way to bring them all under one roof and still live happily?
What may now seem like a minor nuisance can eventually turn into something that can end a relationship.
2. Never let frustrations and hatred build-up
Never ever let a molehill grow into a mountain. If something about your partner or their behavior disturbs you, learn to say it immediately.
Every time you yell at a partner or find yourself getting frustrated, you have to understand that it doesn’t happen all of a sudden. Frustrations always build up slowly. What starts off as a little nagging thought slowly builds up over time into hatred and anger. But if you let things build up in your head, your partner will never understand the things that really bother you, until the day you burst out in a rage. Unless you’re looking for an argument, help your partner understand you better by talking about anything that bothers you, even if it seems trivial at first.
3. Be truthful and frank with each other
If you want to know how to have a long-term relationship, you need to learn to be truthful with each other, be it about a nagging irritation, a fancy sexual fetish, or a friendly crush on someone else.
When you’re truthful, it’ll help your partner understand you better and know you better as a person.
A little white lie is acceptable especially when the truth would hurt your partner. But if it’s something that can affect your relationship, tell the truth. Even if the truth stings.
4. Unique strengths that complement each other
As individuals, all of us come with our own strengths and weaknesses. In a long-term relationship, you need to learn to use your strengths and weaknesses to complement each other and help each other.
If you’re an intellectual thinker and your partner’s a smooth talker, don’t get frustrated or egoistic because of the different strengths. Instead, learn to use each other’s strengths to become more efficient.
Codependence is a strength that’s waiting to be harnessed in a long-term relationship. Use it, don’t fight against it to endure a bad relationship.
5. Think “we” not “I”
Do you think of your partner each time you’re invited to a party or have to plan an evening?
When you’re a couple that’s truly in love with each other, you should think like a couple and keep your partner’s interests in mind just as much as you care about your own interests.
6. Avoid insecurities
Insecurities crop up when there are doubts. Doubts arise when there are miscommunications and half-truths.
Tell your partner the truth, and believe what they tell you. Maybe you have a past with bad exes, or maybe you know that other people find your partner attractive. But those are all external factors that have no place in your relationship, so don’t give them a front-row seat.
7. Trust your instincts
Hunches in a relationship are almost always true. When you think your partner’s bothered or unhappy, big chances are you’re right. If you feel like there’s something wrong in the relationship, there probably is.
Trust your instincts and speak to your partner when you feel something in the air. It’ll help create a happier relationship.
