How to Make a Relationship Work
There is nothing more exciting and fulfilling as the euphoria we experience at the start of a new relationship. Everything seems so much better! We wish everyone could be feeling as wonderful and as happy as we do at that moment. But all relationships require effort if they are going to last. Unfortunately, nobody is born with a How-To manual and if anyone really knew how to make a relationship work, we would only ever be with the first man or woman that we fell in love with. But as we know that seldom happens except in a few cases. For a relationship to really function, it will take years to figure out how because it is a work in progress. Each relationship is different because no two human beings are the same. However, there are things that you can do in order to make a relationship work such as:
1. Being Loyal
Loyalty is one of the most important aspects in any relationship. When one partner is not loyal to the other the door is left wide open for other problems to enter the relationship and possibly bring about its demise. For instance, when one partner is not loyal to the commitment they have made with the other person they will be more inclined to have an affair. Very few relationships manage to survive infidelity although many people try to get beyond it with time. Nevertheless, if there is a question of loyalty in the first place, this would suggest that the person is not ready for a serious relationship anyway and therefore the relationship is not going to work out in the long run.
2. Put in the Effort
To make a relationship work you need to put in some effort. This means that you will do those things that you do not always want to do or are in the mood for. For example, if you are a guy, you will want to make sure that you do not forget the important dates during the year, such her birthday, Valentine’s Day and others. This shows that you are “plugged in” to the relationship and that you want to please your partner. If you are a woman in the relationship then you too need to make the effort necessary to ensure that your partner is happy as much as reasonably possible. Both of you need to put in the effort when it comes to communication, sharing special moments together, which means you need to make time for each other, supporting each other and honoring the commitment that you have made to each other.
3. Know Who You Are
No relationship is going to work if one or either of the parties involved do not stay true to themselves. If you pretend to be someone you are not, the relationship cannot possibly grow and mature over time. Never get involved with someone who does not accept you just the way you are and don’t ever think that it is okay to try to change your partner. If you don’t like them for who and what they are, you should not be with them in the first place. Of course, we do help each other to grow over the years but that does not mean changing each other to be people other than who you are. Do not compromise on your values and principles to suit someone else. How could anyone think a relationship will be a happy functional relationship if they are compromising themselves every single day? It is a recipe for disaster.
4. Be a Couple
Any couple who have been happily married for years will tell you that simply being a couple is very important to the success of the relationship. Your partner needs to be your best friend, the one with whom you can be entirely who you are. They should be the one person with whom you can let your guard down so that your real self is able be. Couples do things together. They go out together and spend time with each other. They laugh and cry together and they work together to make their relationship work. They respond to each other’s needs and support each other whenever necessary.
For a relationship to work the person with whom you are involved must be the most important person in world. It should not matter if you have a bad day at the office so that you are in a bad mood. When you are with your partner, you need to care about them enough not to be harsh with them and take your frustrations out on them. In short, your anger over something and someone else should never be used as an excuse to fight with your partner or make them miserable. When you truly love someone, you do not want to make them unhappy in any way.
Another important thing to remember is that nobody likes and egomaniac. If you are one of those people who prides themselves on saying it like it is, or, it’s your way or the highway, then you need to do something to change that personality trait. Nobody likes that type of attitude and it especially is not going to be pleasant for whomever you are involved with. It can make them feel totally insignificant and worthless and therefore it should be curbed in whatever way possible. Being and egomaniac could well result in you being all alone with nothing but your ego.
Remember, as with anything in life, relationships make it possible for personal growth. You need to be willing to undergo this growth so that you can experience the type of love, devotion, loyalty and trust that comes from a relationship where both parties are equally committed and equally eager to make the relationship work. If only one partner is concerned about these crucial elements, their relationship will falter sooner or later.
