Opposites attract, but do they last? Some might tell you that you have to share numerous interests to have a happy relationship. That helps, but it’s not the only path to lasting love. Loving your opposite isn’t nearly as hard as most people make it out to be.
You’ll definitely need patience sometimes, but what relationship doesn’t need that? Instead of freaking out because the love of your life is your polar opposite, just figure out what you need to do to make things work between you. You already have the love, so you’ve got a great start.
- Accept the you’re not always going to agree. Every couple disagrees sometimes, but opposites tend to disagree more. You could fight it out or just accept that you have differing opinions. As long as you can agree on the big stuff such as your future together, you’ll be okay.
- Compromise the hell out of everything. If compromise isn’t your thing, don’t date your opposite. It’s going to take compromise on both sides to make it work. It usually takes more compromise than usual in this situation. If you both meet halfway, you’ll both be happy.
- Be open to trying new things. One of the best parts of dating someone so different is you get to experience all the things they’re into. While you  might not love everything they do, you have to be open to at least trying some new things. It’s this openness and sharing that helps keep the relationship strong.
- Talk about each other’s interests. I get it, he loves Nirvana and you love Taylor Swift. Who cares if your interests aren’t 100% the same? You can still talk about them to each other. When your interests are different, you always something new to talk about. Besides, it’s fun to watch your partner get super excited, even if you don’t know what they’re talking about.
- Find a small piece of common ground. I know you’re complete opposites, but you still need some type of common ground. It could be a favorite band, TV show, place to eat or hobby. My best advice is to find something as a couple that blends your interests together.
- Make time for your own interests. You don’t have to give up what you love because your partner isn’t the same as you. So many people make this mistake. You have to make time for your interests too. The right partner not only encourages this, but takes time for his interests as well.
- Embrace each other’s friends. Going out with each other’s friends helps you learn more about your partner. It also immerses you more in their life. You’d be surprised at how many new friends you make as well by doing this.
- Never try to change them. I’ve seen women fall for their complete opposite and think they can change him. Don’t. The moment you try to change him is the moment the relationship starts to fall apart. Accept that you’re both different and be happy.
- Don’t give up yourself to be like them. Compromise is one thing, but you shouldn’t give up yourself to be more like your partner. You fell in love as opposites and you can continue the relationship without changing who you are. Change too much and you’re not the person he fell in love with.
- Learn how to communicate without fighting. Good communication is key to any healthy relationship. Since you might disagree on quite a few things, you have to learn how to talk to each other without immediately turning things into WWIII. Be respectful and understanding.
- Enjoy learning from each other. With so many differences, it’s a great chance to learn new things from each other. If you’re open enough, you’ll learn new ways of looking at things, new hobbies and much more. You’ll never run out of new opportunities to learn and grow as a person and couple.
- Be honest and work through things. If you want it to work, you have to be honest with your partner. If you absolutely hate one of their interests, then tell them instead of doing it and then holding a grudge. The more honest you are, the easier it is to work through any issues that pop up.
Loving your opposite and actually making it work are two different things. Just think of it as any other relationship. It’ll have its ups and downs, but if you work at it, you’ll be able to last.
