REALITIES
Successful Relationships Look Like This
What makes successful relationships, well, successful?
Is it magic? Are there specific steps you and your partner should take to achieve this? Do you need to crack a code to strike gold?
The truth is, there’s no secret behind happy and healthy relationships. Not every relationship looks the same, but fulfilling ones have commonalities. Here are some of them:
Emotions Aren’t Weapons
If there’s anything close to a secret formula, it’s the work you should do to ensure you sustain your relationship. Part of successful relationship management is proper emotional control.
Your relationship should be a safe space for expression. You can agree to disagree, and that’s okay as long as you understand and respect each other’s stances.
What’s not okay is if you weaponize your emotions. Why not? Because it makes your relationship a breeding ground for toxicity.
Sadly, some people use this as a manipulation tactic. For instance, when arguing, they may exaggerate their sadness and pain. They’ll use these emotions to target their partner’s empathy and guilt and swing things in their favor.
Martyrdom Is Nowhere to be Seen
No, this isn’t from a religious perspective. The martyr complex also exists in relationships and revolves around the same concept of sacrifice.
This phenomenon refers to someone consistently exhibiting self-sacrificing behavior for others’ benefit. They go out of their way to please other people while they throw their needs in the trash. They complain about their heavy loads. However, they refuse to let others help lessen their weight.
Martyrdom is entirely different from selfless love.
It’s as if someone sentenced you and your partner to be in a relationship instead of entering one out of your own accords.
Meanwhile, the latter is one of the keys to relationship success. It shows you the value of your partner’s needs, letting you learn how to reach a healthy compromise. Contrary to the former, there’s no anger and resentment present here.
Relationships shouldn’t make you feel guilty. Nor should they feel like punishments for crimes. What’s the point of being with someone if they’re only there begrudgingly?
Expectations Don’t Define Needs
Relationship expectations are normal. After all, they give direction for your actions. But as much as you should try to meet them, you shouldn’t make them your be-all and end-all. You can’t check every box, so you shouldn’t exhaust yourself trying.
It’s 2024, so how about we put the idea of partners “completing us” to rest? Total reliance on expectations is not what makes a relationship successful.
Relationships shouldn’t be the only thing providing joy and fulfillment.
You have other needs! It’s okay to seek them out through other avenues, from hobbies to catch-ups with longtime friends.
These three things show there’s no winning formula for successful relationships. No magic trick or manifestation can bring such a thing to life. Instead, you can achieve it through healthy habits.
By practicing these, you and your partner can become a happier couple. How can a relationship look any more successful than that?
