In the previous article, I talked about how you can have a happy relationship and mentioned few key things that are vital for a relationship to function. I told you that, in order to be happy with your partner, it is very important to be happy with yourself. I also pointed out that trying to look perfect is meaningless because your partner should know and love you for both your qualities and flaws. I also talked about how important it is to make compromises at the right time, to develop your own passions and to form a life outside of your relationship. All these steps taught you how to act in a relationship so that both you and your partner can be a happy couple.
Today we’ll continue the journey to living a happy couple life by adding five more tips to “The Anatomy of a Happy Relationship”.
6. Communication is Key
Yes, I know that you’ve heard this one over and over again, but I can’t stress enough on how important this is. To be the other half of a couple, you first need to know how to communicate. And when I say “communicate”, I’m definitely not referring to talking. Everyone can talk all day long without saying anything interesting. You have to learn to express what you like and what you don’t, what are your desires and dreams. Secondly, you have to learn to express your feelings and to speak your mind. Without your partner knowing what you want and what you don’t, you will not be able to move in the same direction. Communication is the bridge between you and your partner, where you always meet in the middle.
I have come across couples that were so stubborn, that they refused to talk to each other when things didn’t go their way. They’d lock themselves away from one another, and refuse to talk about the problem, hoping that eventually it will go away by itself. But actually, that would only make matters worse, since the problem is not solved; it’s just concealed.
7. Realistic Expectations
There are two stages of a relationship: infatuation, which is the beginning of all relationships, and the love stage, where you already know most of your partner’s flaws and you accept them all.
In the infatuation stage, you see everything as being perfect, movie-like. You feel that your love should end up like all those romantic movies. However, if you set your relationship expectations too high, you might find yourself going through unnecessary suffering. Sure, while romantic films might give you some good ideas and provide you with a nice escape, they can also promote unrealistic expectations for a relationship. Be aware that no relationship is magical (at least not after the infatuation stage has ended), and that they all have their ups and downs.
8. Don’t Ask Your Partner to Change for You
Well, I’m going to be honest with you – asking your partner to change for you is one of the stupidest things you can do. You fell in love with your partner because you liked them for who they were and not for what you want them to be. You need to accept that person for what they really are. Trying to change them will make them lose their self-confidence and will eventually create a distance between you two. I can assure you that if you and your partner stop trying to change each other, then your relationship won’t be packed with so many arguments anymore.
Of course, if your half is on drugs or alcohol abuse, that’s another story. But when it comes to personality, why would you try to change something that was good from the start?
9. Role-Playing Makes a Couple Happy
I’m not talking about bedroom role play (although that wouldn’t be a bad idea either), but I’m talking about your everyday activities. For example, do something one day that usually falls into the hands of your partner. Cook dinner, do the laundry or be their personal chauffeur if they’re usually the ones driving. It would provide each other a better understanding of their perspective, and you’ll be able to appreciate each other more.
Watch the relationship from your partner’s perspective and your relationship will be on the right track.
10. Be Honest in Your Relationship
Honesty and communication usually go hand in hand. However, you can still communicate without being entirely honest – in other words, conveniently “forget” to mention something. As mentioned, most people prefer the easy way out, to simply ignore an issue and hope it goes away. But if you’re looking for tips on how to have a happy relationship, I can assure you, that is not the way. If you choose not to share some things with your partner that he or she may not want to hear, you’re not solving a problem – you’re just avoiding it. By not telling your partner what the problem is, it will just build up until all hell will break loose at some point.
Also, trust is a fundamental part of a relationship. If the trust happens to break, it will take a lot of time and effort to repair the relationship.
Bonus – Don’t Take Your Partner For Granted
If you stop showing signs of your love once you have ‘secured’ your relationship, you shouldn’t be surprised if at some point your partner will be fed up and leave. If you want to have a happy relationship, you should know that every person needs to feel loved and needed always, and not just in the first couple of months. Tell your partner that you love them once in a while, and express your feelings of appreciation for your relationship. This way, your lover will feel respected and will be thankful for your efforts.
Now that you know what it takes to be happy with your partner, keep this article in mind along with the previous one and learn how to have a happy relationship with your partner.