7 Surefire Ways To Building a Lasting Romantic Relationship

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Thomas Merton says, “The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image.” We all yearn for such kind of love and a relationship in which we can be ourselves and still be loved unconditionally. We all yearn for a companion who can walk us on this journey of life, one with whom we can realize goals and big dreams.

Be intentional

If you have been in a relationship with someone for a while,  it is very easy to start taking them for granted with the assumption that the relationship will take care of itself. You are likely to stop going out on dates with your significant other, stop telling them that you love them or be spontaneous with them.

It may not feel that way at first but this is a dangerous situation to be in. Remember to be intentional, and take control of the relationship so that you can take care of your relationship where you want it to go.

Explore Communication

You have heard that communication is the key to a healthy and lasting relationship. This remains true whether it’s in your romantic or personal life. However, communication is not all about talking things as everyone has their own unique communication style.

Being in a relationship involves learning your communication style, how it works and how it can compare to your partner’s. You may also be required to explore alternatives if you don’t feel like you both communicate effectively especially when your emotions elevate.

Do Things Together

While it may be true that opposites attract, it’s not always a sane relationship standard.It’s important that you retain your individuality and remain in a lasting relationship. Who you are as a person is what attracts your partner from the get-go. For that reason, you’ll have differences, and having a common ground for strengthening your bond is significant.

Spending more time together while enjoying activities that you both enjoy can strengthen your bond within your romantic relationship. If you don’t have a reason to spend most of the time together then you are likely to find yourselves enjoying your time when you are apart.

Work On Yourself

We all have some traits and perks that we all bring to relationships. How we behave is heavily influenced by our past experiences. Some behaviours may make it difficult or challenging to stay in a long-term relationship. If you were in an abusive relationship you may find it hard to fully trust your partner.

Understanding yourself and what behaviours you need to manage are an important step towards your relationship longevity. You are only able to change yourself and not anybody else. It’s important to remain open about working on yourself and also encourage your partner to be patient with you as it may also motivate your partner to work on themselves.

Encourage Intimacy

Both physical and emotional intimacy can show how important your partner is to you. Emotional intimacy involves sharing personal thoughts, dreams and beliefs. Physical intimacy is a sexual physical expression of the bond you and your significant share as a couple. According to studies in 2014, researchers found intimacy level has a huge influence on the satisfaction of a couple’s relationship satisfaction.

Consider How You Say Things

Words are important in conveying our thoughts. You might not think about it actively, but the truth is that the way you say things to your partner also matters, even if your partner recognizes a different underlying intent.

Statements that are demeaning to your partner can damage their self-esteem. According to research from 2014, high self-esteem is connected to both parents’ relationship satisfaction.

Ditch The Contingency Plan

Making a lifetime commitment to somebody is one the most scariest things one can do. Some of us go into such covenants with contingency plans ready to deploy them the first time we sense trouble. In long-term relationships, troubles are a guarantee. If you desire to have a long-term relationship then you have to decide to stay the course even when things get tough.

This doesn’t mean that you have to stay in such a dangerous situation, it means that you need to understand the ups and downs of a relationship are absolutely normal. If you put in the work together, you can comfortably navigate your way through the challenges in your relationship.

EXPLORE MORE: How To Get Out of The Friend Zone Into A Relationship

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