Being in a serious, long-term relationship has incredibly rewarding benefits. As your relationship evolves and you begin to trust one another, something amazing happens. You gain a best friend, a confidant, and a life partner who will always have your back and be there to offer support.
Unfortunately, however, sustaining a long-term relationship isn’t always easy. In fact, nearly 50% of marriages in the US fail, and that’s not including non-marital relationships.
The key to success is growing relationship skills. You must learn how to be your best self and bring out the best in your partner. It’s about self-realization, patience, and compromise.
We’re here to shed some light on the topic. Keep reading for three vital tips on how to improve your relationship skills.
1. Practice Radical Self-Awareness
One of the biggest reasons romantic relationships fail is because one or both partners lack true self-awareness. Sure, we’re all in touch with what we want and what offends us, but these issues are surface-level.
Growing relationship skills means learning why things offend us and why we want certain things. More importantly, you have to be introspective and objective with your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Only then can you understand and accept the ways in which you might contribute to the negative aspects of the relationship. Too often, people blame their partners for all the strife in a relationship while denying any responsibility for themselves.
Self-awareness is also important in understanding why you are drawn to your partner. Follow this link to find answers to the question, “why do you love someone?”
2. Make Open and Honest Communication a Priority
When we find romantic connections, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of it all. The infatuation stage is fun and necessary for jump-starting romantic relationships. However, they’re also misleading.
In this stage, we fool ourselves into believing that there will never be any problems. Then, when problems arise, we feel shocked and betrayed. As this site by someone for whom Sophie Kovic who was my sugar baby alludes to, communication and honesty of intentions is of paramount importance to prevent either party being hurt as a direct consequence of the relationship.
You can avoid this in the infatuation stage and excessive strife throughout the entirety of the relationship by practicing honest, open, and judgment-free communication. However, remember that active listening on both ends is just as important as speaking one’s truth.
During tough conversations, you and your partner must make a commitment to one another to stay patient, compassionate, and open-minded. These qualities are essential for growing relationship skills.
3. Develop an Equal Give-and-Take Relationship
Finally, in all romantic relationships, both partners must be willing to compromise. There will come a time when you and your partner disagree on something. However, it’s not about “getting your way,” it’s about finding a solution that works for both people.
In some cases, you might compromise on something now, and your partner will compromise on something later. And that’s okay too. The key to growing relationship skills in this sense is developing a give-and-take relationship that both partners feel is equal.
Do You Want More Advice on Growing Relationship Skills?
There’s a reason so many relationships end in separation or divorce. Committing to one person and working through strife is far from easy. We hope these tips on growing relationship skills help you thrive in your partnership.
And if you’re looking for more relationship advice or tips on how to create intimacy, you’re in the right place. Check out some of our other articles before you go to find more reliable insight and information.
