You’re in a healthy relationship or happily married and you want it to last as long as life permits? Well, guess what? Love is not the only thing that keeps your relationship going. To achieve a “happily ever after” relationship, you have to put in conscious effort to keep it going. A lot of factors affect a couple’s relationship, but with the right knowledge, you can attain length and even marital bliss.
Here are 6 specific things that can have a major impact on your relationship’s longevity:
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Communication
Communication to a relationship is like oxygen to life. Without it, it dies. The act of communicating not only helps you to meet your needs, but it helps build and connection in your relationship. No matter how much chemistry you have or how attracted you are to each other if you don’t relate to each other you will end up with continual misunderstandings.
Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings, fights, and sometimes, breakups. Communication in relationships is not about making small talks. It’s about listening, understanding your partner’s perspectives, and offering the required support. Take the time to practice appreciating what you like in each other and ask them questions to get to know them again. Take the time to share your feelings, thoughts, and dreams.
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Secrets
Even in happy and healthy relationships, you have the right to privacy but if you have too many secrets, your relationship will suffer. A relationship built on dishonesty has low confidence and trust levels.
Whereas, a relationship with no secrets and high vulnerability between the partners increases intimacy and strengthens the bond. Keeping secrets from your partner and not being able to communicate with is a hotbed for betrayal. Remember, simply knowing that you’re being dishonest creates distance.
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Forgiveness
Relationships need Forgiveness. A relationship gets stronger when both of you are willing to understand mistakes and forgive each other. No one is perfect and there are going to be times where you will disappoint each other and make mistakes. This happens in all relationships. Holding onto wrongs and keeping grudges will only damage relationships.
Forgiveness is a skill. Learn to build it into your relationship daily. Relationships where they chose forgiveness over being right stand the test of time.
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Fun
Relationships where couples have fun together last. Keeping relationships exciting takes a bit of effort but it’s always worth it. Having fun together can help couples feel positive, increase relationship satisfaction and tighten their bond. I recommend doing something new together to keep that spark fresh. The novelty and newness keep relationships alive.
Play with each other! Create a relationship bucket list with all the things you want to try together as a couple. This keeps relationships strong, healthy and they will last!
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Financial Issues.
No matter how strong the love is, financial issues can wreak havoc in a relationship. It’s hard to keep the flame alive when the other partner doesn’t have a job, doesn’t receive income, or spends the money they earn unwisely. When there’s only one person in the family in charge of paying bills, and the other is always needy, conflict may arise.
Love may bring two people together but sometimes money is what drives them apart. To make your relationship last longer, become financially responsible, assign financial roles to each partner and make relationship budgets.
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Sex
Sex, Romance, and intimacy are essential parts of adult relationships and marriages. If you stop having sex or have less sex than in old times, it gives the impression that you don’t find your partner attractive anymore. You can see how this will affect the longevity of relationships!
Of course, there will be times where you may not feel like having sex, particularly after childbirth. It happens to most couples from time to time. But ensure to communicate a coping mechanism for your partner and do your best to keep the romance alive.
