Being part of a strong couple is something that many of us someday wish for. Can you imagine being with someone and not feeling insecure that they might change their mind? It’s wonderful, especially if you have a history of short-lived romances. Here’s how strong couples have secured their relationships.
- They always tell each other the truth. Even if they know it’ll be hard, they understand that withholding the truth will only challenge their bond down the road. They talk about everything — from how much they actually spent on groceries, to whether or not they felt like a coworker was being inappropriate with them. The more they share, the more their partner knows they can trust them. Strong couples eventually reach a point where it’s mentally difficult to lie or stretch the truth, and that’s for the best.
- If they’re upset, they address it immediately. Strong couples know that small annoyances happen — but unless they’re addressed, they can snowball into something much bigger. Suddenly, “they didn’t unpack the groceries” becomes “do they even care about housework?” To prevent spiraling out, strong couples aren’t afraid to point something out when it happens. That way, there’s also less tension behind it. “Don’t forget to put the sodas in the fridge” is just a kind reminder and not fuel for a fight.
- They spend time together. The best couples make memories. Sure, sometimes they might just watch a ton of television on the couch, but discussing a show or movie counts as quality time. Strong couples often do other things together as well, like buying groceries or walking the dog together.
- They’re fully immersed in each other’s families. Strong couples try to attend every family event they can on both sides if it’s important to their partner. Even if they aren’t married yet, they have a feeling that they’re with “the one.” And, that means that eventually, their partner’s family will also become their family, and having a prior connection is always important. If you have a partner who refuses to go to your family’s barbecue, take that as a big warning sign.
- Each partner wants to help the other become a better person. Strong couples believe in each other. Think about Jim and Pam on The Office — early on, Jim encouraged Pam to go to art school when Roy, who was her fiancé at the time, made her feel like it’d be a waste. It’s important to be with someone who believes in you and wants you to improve for nobody’s gain but your own. There’s something very special about people who aren’t afraid to follow their own interests.
- That means that they’re supportive of each other all the time. Whether it’s a job promotion or simply learning a new skill, strong couples consist of two people who happen to be pretty big fans of each other. Strong couples aren’t afraid to shout from the rooftops (or at least, Facebook) when their partner won a contest, switched careers, or started writing their novel. If you’re jealous of your partner’s success, a lot can go wrong down the line. When something good happens to your partner, it should be a win for both of you.
- They approach issues as a team. When there’s a problem, they don’t pass it onto each other to solve. Instead, they try their best to solve it as a team. If one of the partners has a child, the other looks out for the kid as well, and doesn’t necessarily think that “it’s not my kid.” They know that one day, they may be a step-parent and that the child is part of the equation. Couples know that if they’re going to last forever, they need to collaborate on a lot of things.
- Dates still happen, regardless of how long they’ve been together. Relationships require effort and maintenance. Flirting shouldn’t just be reserved for crushes. Even if they’ve been dating for years, strong couples still make sure to let each other know that there’s still plenty of attraction between them. Strong couples don’t need grand gestures to showcase to the world, but a romantic dinner every once in a while is pretty standard.
- They don’t need too many breaks from each other. Sometimes, even in the best relationships, it’s nice having a night alone. But strong couples still miss their partners during the break. They don’t see this as a time to live the bachelor life again. They appreciate the time, yet can’t wait until you FaceTime.
- Solid partners don’t get jealous. Jealousy happens sometimes. It’s normal to feel jealous if your partner is spending a lot of time at work with other people, or happens to be more advanced. But, jealousy should be very short-lived. Strong couples know that they’re not in competition with each other. They also know that the foundation built together is tight and that it’d take a lot for a new person to suddenly rock the relationship. They’re not worried about a cute new coworker. Because, they have faith that their partner loves them fully.
