1. Be very upfront about your intentions and expectations.
You are never going to be able to find success in your relationships if you aren’t on the same page with your partner. So even at the very beginning, the both of you have to learn to be very upfront about your intentions and your expectations. You both need to be doing your part in making sure that you are always seeing eye to eye with one another. If not, then you’re opening yourself up to being played; you might be opening yourself up to someone who has no plans of committing to being with you at all.
2. Always be honest about your grievances.
Don’t keep your misgivings about your relationship bottled up inside. Yes, you don’t want to come across as someone who is constantly nagging and complaining. You don’t want your partner to see you as a spoiled brat. And that’s a good instinct to have. But you can’t be a pushover either. If something isn’t making you happy, then you need to let your partner know about it. You always need to be talking about your problems and issues in your relationship. Just make sure that you approach your partner in a very sensitive and warmhearted manner. Be open-minded and always display patience and understanding with one another.
3. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself to be perfect.
You don’t ALWAYS have to be perfect. Yes, you should always be striving for perfection. You should always want to be the best version of yourself. However, that doesn’t take it to mean that you aren’t allowed to have a few mistakes every now and then. It’s okay for you to admit that you don’t know something. It’s okay for you to admit that you have certain weaknesses and insecurities. It’s okay for you to NOT be perfect. And you should never pressure yourself into being so in your relationships. Otherwise, you are going to burn yourself out.
4. Believe that honesty is always the best policy.
You are never going to be able to find happiness in a relationship where there is too much lying going around. Always try to maintain an honesty policy with the person that you love. Be open. Be transparent.
5. Learn to be silly around one another.
Don’t fight the awkwardness. Don’t fight the silliness. It’s okay to be silly around your loved one. It shows comfort and trust. If you stay uptight and rigid all of the time, then it’s just not natural. Don’t take life and love too seriously – it’s something that is always meant to be enjoyed. It shouldn’t always be stressing you out too much.
6. Don’t be apologetic about how you feel.
Stop saying sorry too much. If you feel a certain way, then express it. If you love someone, then don’t be withholding. You don’t have to be apologetic about caring for another person too much. That is always your own prerogative.
7. Allow yourself to get vulnerable.
Although it might be contrary to the point of this article, but vulnerability is key in any relationship. Yes, vulnerability is a display of weakness. And people mostly prey on the weak. But you are never going to be able to experience love the way that it’s supposed to be experience unless you allow yourself to be vulnerable. You are going to have to open yourself up to some extent. You are going to need to open your heart to another person. Otherwise, you would be causing your own heartbreak by keeping it locked in and inaccessible to others.
8. Take the time to really be observant and detail-oriented.
Always be vigilant. Yes, you always want to be seeing the good in people. However, there is no denying that there are just so many bad people out there today. There are so many of those who are just looking to really manipulate and abuse the weak. And there are also those who are virtually incapable of being mature enough for relationships. And you need to be able to spot these red flags before it’s too late. You don’t want to grow attached to someone in a blind and naïve manner.
9. Be accountable to your own actions.
Own up to your shortcomings. Own up to your mistakes. If you are too proud to admit your own weaknesses, then you are never going to grow; you are never going to become the person that you’re supposed to be in a relationship. And in the end, your pride is eventually going to come right back around to bite you in the butt.
10. Don’t succumb to the expectations that other people have of you.
Yes, it’s important to heed the advice of other people who are more experienced; people who genuinely care about you. But ultimately, you should only ever really have to meet your own expectations. The moment that you allow yourself to become the subject of other peoples’ wild standards and expectations, then you are effectively breaking your own heart.
