Today, we’re going to talk about relationships and give you a roadmap to make sure that your relationship is honeymoon hot, deep, and meaningful. Let’s dive in and discuss how to create and maintain a strong, meaningful relationship. We’ll focus on the importance of commitment, trust, honesty, and patience in any relationship.
Commitment is the bedrock of any successful relationship, and it’s essential to ensure that both partners are equally committed to the relationship. To avoid things that can derail couples concerning commitment, it’s crucial to know what you want individually and collectively in the relationship. Open, honest and vulnerable communication about what commitment looks like to each of you is necessary. You should lay out what commitment means to you and make sure you and your partner feel safe and secure within that commitment. Remember, there is no Plan B when it comes to commitment in a relationship-it’s a life-long journey of being joined at the hip and facing the challenges, ups & downs together.
In building trust and honesty, it’s essential to communicate truthfully, respectfully and avoid the white lies that can accumulate and destroy trust. Don’t let issues pile up without communicating about them, and if you’re upset, find a way to express it to your partner in an honest and respectful way that shares your emotions and feelings without attacking theirs. If someone has violated your trust, acceptance is key. Acknowledge the action or behavior was wrong and inform your partner that you truly understand how you hurt them and that you are committed to not repeating the offense. Take it moment by moment and connect with the positive aspects of your relationship and magnify them, rather than dwelling on the negative.
Patience is essential when maintaining a healthy relationship. If you feel like your partner isn’t on the same wavelength, it’s important to maintain patience and seek understanding. Being unruffled in your approach and showing empathy can go a long way in resolving conflicts and gaining a more intimate understanding of your partner. Remember to communicate and magnify the good and not to hide from the bad with your partner and celebrate all the moments (even the small ones!) where you feel really good together.
Also helpful, for men especially – is to be mindful of how your emotional reactions are different from your partner’s and to communicate and share those real emotions with your partner. Remember, it’s not always about finding a solution to every conflict; understanding your partner’s perspective and feelings is key.
Building and maintaining a healthy relationship takes trust, honesty, patience, understanding, and communication. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it. Live in the positive, remain loving in all of your interactions, and keep building and strengthening those deeper connections!
Until next time. Remember, happily ever after doesn’t just happen. It’s on purpose.
Today’s content was written with help from two of our KCN elite relationship coaches: Christy Primmer, a Kickass Couples relationship coach who specializes in trauma counseling and women’s empowerment, and Chris A. Matthews, a Kickass Couples relationship coach who has a large practice in Charlotte, NC and specializes in handling addiction and working with couples. Check out the FULL Kickass Couples podcast episode where they joined us to discuss creating a “Relationship Roadmap – A Guide to Do’s & Don’ts for Lasting Love”
