Nourishing a Long-Term Relationship

Relationships are a commitment, through the ups and the downs. It is essential to know the difference between typical relationship flows and actual abuse, but assuming everything is within healthy boundaries, times may still get challenging. This means that over time you will sometimes have days where you quite literally cannot stand your significant other. 

It is important to remember that everyone in life is going to hurt your feelings in one way or another, and in various ways with various impacts. We are all human. We all want to be forgiven, but do not like to forgive. If a problem comes up in your relationship, it doesn’t necessarily mean ‘all is lost’ or that you’ve made a mistake in choosing this partner. It could mean that you should take some time to reflect on the situation and discuss it with your partner so that ultimately your relationship becomes stronger. The best thing you can do in this situation is take a step back from your own feelings (take yourself out of the equation) and try to see the situation from your partner’s perspective. This can help you understand your significant other in ways you never thought you could.

Be sure to always communicate your feelings about issues and how they make you feel. Even if you think it is obvious, sometimes hearing these things calmly out loud can really make an impact..

If you are going through a challenging time in your relationship, another idea to try is to think back on why you fell in love with that person in the first place. Going back to the happy memories can make you feel rejuvenated. Celebrate each other when you can, and pick each other up when you can’t. Remember that as much as you try, a long term relationship is not always going to be paradise. Being there for each other will make for a very rewarding life in the long run.