While we enjoy our romance tales and movies to finish with the pair living “happily ever after,” everyone who has actually been in a long-term relationship understands how tough it is to achieve that state in real life. We think that maintaining a healthy long-term connection takes a lot of time and work at Community Reach Center. But if you’re serious about doing it, you can do it.

In it for the Long Haul

If you and your partner are truly focused on going the distance, here are some strategies you can use to help ensure you do:

1. Compromise.Early on in a partnership, things are usually split 50/50. Their wants and needs, as well as yours, are both respected. However, it’s also uncommon for us to become a little selfish over time and have stronger preferences for the things we want to see, do, or eat, as well as the people we want to spend time with. It’s critical to notice and oppose that shift in order to keep a good relationship.
2. Be open and honest about your feelings. Effective communication is essential for long-term relationship success. Because we don’t want to “bother” our partner, we may begin to keep things inside. In other circumstances, we may desire to hold on to specific feelings because we believe it gives us power. Whatever the reason, it’s critical to avoid erecting barriers or distorting the reality when it comes to our emotions. If you keep your partner in the dark about your emotional state, you are unfairly putting them at a disadvantage.
3. Know that nobody ever “wins” an argument. Both of you lose when an argument becomes more about “winning” than about resolving the issue. In a debate, saying early and often that the goal is to find a mutually accepted solution to the problem is much more favorable to a positive outcome. This can be challenging, but if it is, refer to item #1 above!
4. Understand how your partner expresses love. Even for couples who have been together for many years, it’s easy to forget how their partner tends to demonstrate love. Taking time to recognize and appreciate those expressions is the best way to keep them coming.
5. Refuse to use the silent treatment. While we may try to convince ourselves that remaining silent is preferable to saying anything cruel, the truth is that receiving the silent treatment may be just as painful and harmful to a relationship. Furthermore, in that circumstance, there are more than two possibilities. A third option is to say what you’re thinking but avoid using angry or emotional words. Words selected with care can go a long way toward resolving a disagreement.
6. Give them space. Being apart can feel odd for some people. But the truth is that we all require space, even if that need isn’t often or even frequently recognized. And it’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder.