Love. Everyone wants it until it gets complicated. Being in a relationship can either be very fulfilling or emotionally volatile; there’s no grey space, nor is their room for black or white or there can be, depending on what kind of relationship you’re in. Being in a relationship with someone you have warm feelings for can sound good in your head, but when you’re actually in one, you could be thinking some very different things or even want to get out of it.
But if you decided to start a relationship with someone, why not salvage it instead of breaking up. Good relationship advice will tell that no relationship is perfect; you will have your good days and your bad days. Sometimes he or she will be nice, other times they won’t be, but you might not be that nice some days either. A relationship is a two-way road; whatever you give, you should get it in return. Reciprocity. Then again, it’s easier said than done.
Good relationship advice can be found anywhere if you look for and are willing to listen and change; shows like The Balancing Act and other experts have techniques that have proven successful for couples and can be beneficial for you. Though there is much to be said, there are some steps you can take, which can help in making your relationships stronger for the better.
First and foremost, if you’ve taken steps to begin dating someone, you’ve seen something in them worth taking a chance. Sometimes you might be right about that thing, or you might be completely wrong, so before you ask someone out or say yes to a date, be sure that you like who that person is and that they have the visible characteristics that you would like to have in a significant other.
Now, if dating this person leads to stronger feelings and a relationship is formed, expect turbulence from time to time, but if the road does get bumpy, take some time to let the fog clear or let the fires die down and think about how you can overcome or rectify the dilemma. Communication is key in these sorts of situations; you have to be mature and listen to their thoughts and act upon them or explain why you think different.
While everything is fine and dandy, you must treat your significant other or spouse with the utmost respect and consideration when interacting with one another. At this point, you must know your partner’s mood and behavior well enough to know what angers them and what makes them happy. The basis of interaction revolves around this; you should treat his or her feelings with consideration, and vice-versa. Because if this isn’t respected, you’ve entered into a toxic relationship where respect is absent.
Romanticism only goes so far; it’s nice at the moment, but when things are a little turbulent, you’ll be finding yourself in a situation where the only thing you’ll want to do is break up the marriage or relationship. Another piece of good relationship advice that many sources like The Balancing Act, swear by is the notion of promises and actions. Promises are easily undone; actions, on the other hand, can’t be. What’s done is done. You should know what your responsibilities in the relationship are; your partner shouldn’t have to tell you what to do or what not to do.
No one likes being told what to do or not to do, and nobody likes having to look after another person as if they were a parent — doing what you need to do cuts down on tension and stress in the relationship. Now in doing so, it’s nice to tell your partner that you love them, but it’s so much more passionate when you show them by doing things they like, even if you don’t like doing those things yourself. If you do this and you don’t have a long face while doing it, it’ll mean a whole lot more than saying “I love you;” an example of this would be attending an event that your partner is excited to go to but may not be your cup of tea.
Ultimate gratification comes when you’re selfless, which is good relationship advice. Whether you’re romantically involved with someone or you’re just trying to be a better person. Of course, we live in a world that promotes a sense of selfless selfishness, where you’re taught to care and to love, but to look out for your interest and needs above all else, subliminally. This ties into the paragraph above, but when showing love to your partner, it must be in alignment with their needs, feelings, and interests. This also translates into being nice or not.
Being nice is seen as a way of getting taken advantage of, but having a hard and icy disposition can repel your partner instead of attracting them. Learn to balance your affableness with assertions. Being understanding is a quality that’s essential to have, especially if you’re a man. Shows like The Balancing Act have applauded having an understanding character and being able to use that character trait to make your partner happy, thus adding to a healthy romantic foundation that will last.