There have been so many articles written about finding success in relationships in the past. But a lot of them tend to really overcomplicate things. That’s what’s going to make this particular article so different from the rest. It’s going to trim away the fat. It’s going to do away with all of the unnecessary things. It’s going to focus on the real core essentials of making a relationship work.
The Art of the Compromise
Relationships just aren’t all about getting what you can out of someone. It’s also about giving as much of yourself into something that is greater than you. If you find yourself in a position wherein you are giving so much of yourself and you feel cheated or undervalued, then maybe you are in an unequal relationship. The problem with being in an excessively unequal relationship is that it generates imbalance and animosity within the relationship.
You aren’t always going to be seeing eye to eye on everything in the relationship. You aren’t always going to be in agreement. You are going to have your fair share of differences, and you both need to be able to meet each other halfway. Both of you must learn the art of the compromise if you really want to establish equilibrium in your relationship. You need to always be willing to adjust for the sake of your partner and your relationship.
The Value of Effective Communication
There are very few problems in a relationship that can’t be fixed by effective and open communication. If the two of you are just purely unable to communicate with one another in an open and honest manner, then the relationship just isn’t built to last for the long-term. You always need to find a way to openly express your thoughts and feelings to one another in a consistent and open manner.
That means showing the willingness to have uncomfortable and difficult conversations with your partner; even if it means it would lead to eventual conflict. You can’t let your thoughts and feelings stay bottled up inside. When you see a problem in the relationship, you need to speak up so that your partner will know when it’s time to adjust.
The Wisdom in Picking Your Spots
Granted, after a marriage or when the two of you start to get really serious with one another, you will start to discover that you and your partner aren’t always going to jive after all. There will be moments wherein you will really dwell on your clashes and your differences. And it’s not always easy having to find a middle ground. It’s not always easy trying to meet the other half way. You aren’t always going to agree on everything – and you always have to be able to address the conflicts that you have with one another.
However, it’s always important for you to understand that there is a time and place for everything. You aren’t always going to be able to fight with your partner whenever you want and expect good things to come out of it. Also, not every battle is worth fighting over. Sometimes, there are just some things that you need to let go of. You don’t have to engage in every war. If you feel comfortable with losing a battle every once in a while, then do so. There’s no need for unnecessary friction in the relationship.
Don’t be so secretive about your needs.
There are a few times wherein we enter a long-term relationship and we get so tangled up in it all. We get so caught up in the idea of loving another person more than we love ourselves to the point that we end up disregarding our own needs and desires. We make so many concessions. We make so many compromises. We give up so many things for the sake of this love.
And you might feel like that’s an incredibly noble thing to do. You might think that you are doing your relationship a major favor. But here’s what you need to understand: you shouldn’t always be putting another person’s needs above your own. If you keep putting yourself second, you are diminishing your own dignity. You are breeding resentment within your own relationship and you are going to end up suffering for it.
Of course, it isn’t likely that the two of you are going to have the exact same outlook and expectations in love and relationships. And that’s okay. It’s all about being able to strike a balance. You both need to find a way to make one another happy. You both need to be able to maintain an open mind and an open heart at all times.
Of course, love is complicated. And these are only a few things that you need to keep in mind to make a relationship work. But at the end of the day, the choice to make a love work is always up to you and your efforts.
