In a lasting relationship, couples demonstrate their love by doing daily things to support each other. Although a loving, committed couple can make a relationship look easy, it takes some work. Ask anyone who has been in a long-term relationship. Life together isn’t always perfect.
Linda and Charlie Bloom, authors of “Secrets of Great Marriages,” write about lasting couples and say that over time, “the experience of nurturing the relationship no longer feels like effort or work, but literally becomes a labor of love that feels more like a gift, a joyful opportunity for which we feel grateful and blessed.”
Here are the top 4 Habits of Lasting Couples:
1. The happiest couples talk about their emotions.
One thing that lasting couples do is care for each other’s feelings by doing the emotional work that the relationship requires. We rarely hear about emotional work, but psychologists study this topic as a factor in relationship happiness.
Researchers in the “Journal of Family Issues” says, “Family members do work to meet people’s emotional needs, improve their well-being, and maintain harmony.”
When emotional work is shared equally, both men and women can access emotional resources in the family. However, like housework and childcare, the distribution of emotional work is gendered.’ Women are the ones who typically talk more about their feeling in a relationship, but it’s not impossible to get a man to open up too. He needs to feel safe.
Researchers show how important emotional work is to healthy relationships. Partners with a gender imbalance towards expressing their feelings tended to see an erosion of the marriage, posing a health risk from psychological distress.
For a lasting relationship, men need to identify emotional cues from their female partner and help her release feelings of anger/sadness/fear. When male partners express their feelings and support their companions emotionally, they have one of the most considerable skills needed for a lasting relationship.
2. Work on solving problems
Every day couples face challenges. Large or small, sometimes just getting coordinated to get out the door for work in the morning can be a task. Then, later in the day, the topic of what you are having for dinner and who will cook it can become an issue. Beyond that, more significant problems arise concerning finances, health, family planning, social commitments, etc.
Couples who have a lasting relationship make everyday issues a breeze. They communicate well and problem-solve. They don’t fret about the small things. Besides that, they look forward to their future together. They usually share a common goal, such as retiring early or paying off the house, so they have money to travel. The more shared goals you have, the easier it can be to problem-solve.
3. Long-lasting couples communicate openly
Of course, you talk to your partner, but you seek to understand your other half rather than just talking to them when you are in a lasting relationship. You express your viewpoint and ask your partner to contribute their opinion.
Communication is a gift that you can give your partner in the form of excellent listening skills. Misunderstandings can be a source of tension and anger in a relationship. Prevent problems by being fully present when your partner is speaking. Eliminate distractions, make eye contact, and do not wait to talk. Ask questions about your partner’s words and restate them so they know you genuinely understand them.
The importance of excellent communication cannot be overstated for lasting couples. Open communication is also the basis of trust. Lasting couples do not hide things from their partner.
4. Create a shared special moment
Successful business leaders know that reviewing the workday to find the lessons learned is an excellent practice. In a strong relationship with your romantic partner, you should also look back to see how your day went as a couple.
Is there a learning experience that you can apply to right now? Did your partner smile or laugh with you today? Are you free of worries, or is there something you need to get off your chest? What would one thing make your day together even better?
Creating one special moment each day with your love is not difficult. All it takes is knowing your partner well and finding the right moment to connect with them deeply. Think of one thing that your partner likes that you can give them.
For example, you might share a private joke while watching your favorite movie. The memorable moment could be when you sense your partner’s tension and give them a back rub. Maybe your special moment is a cuddle in bed together. These small but significantly intimate moments make a lasting couple blissfully connected.
Final Thoughts: Reaffirm your commitment to your partner
This may sound corny, but each day you stay with your partner, you commit to them. Let’s face it, you have free will and could decide to find another partner. The fact that you don’t do that is a significant decision that you have barely even been aware of making.
These four habits reaffirm your commitment to your partner every single day. You are not staying true to your promise when you lack action in these areas.
Gratitude is everything. Simple statements like, “Thank you for staying committed to me,” are very powerful.
When things get tough, they will bring awareness to why you stay with your partner. Think about the importance of your relationship and how you have managed to be a lasting couple, no matter how long you have lasted. Keep going, stay strong and committed. The best is yet to come!
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