The secret of couples with happy relationships
While many relationships may appear perfect on social media, the reality looks often different. No couple is perfect, however, there are couples who are actively striving to cultivate a genuinely happy, healthy and long-lasting relationship. What sets these couples apart?
No one teaches us how to find and keep love. Some of us look to their parents and use them as a role model, however, no one is perfect, and everyone has emotional baggage. How people manage their emotional baggage and how they behave in relationships, what rules apply to them, is mainly influenced by our environment. With this lack of guidance on how to keep and find love, let’s have a look at research that observed happy couples over time. What do these couples have in common? What habits keep their relationships fulfilling, happy, and long-lasting? Lets have a look at the research of successful couples by the Gottman Institute.
Couples who play together stay together
Passionate love tends to decline over time, and companionate love is what keeps couples together in the long run. In a successful relationship, it goes beyond being mere companions. Fulfilling and happy couples truly understand each other’s worlds, from dreams and fears to guilty pleasures. They know the key to making each other laugh, sparking passion, and navigating both positive and negative moments.
Laughter, play, and shared fun are vital parts of their relationship. Friendship, in this context, acts as a shield against stress and provides strength during conflicts. The blend of playfulness and deep friendship creates a comprehensive approach to building a relationship, where shared activities and emotional connection work together to strengthen the bond over time.
Playing together brings fun into the relationship and keeps the sparks alive. Playing is an attitude. So, what can you do to introduce play and adventure into your relationship?
- Try out a new restaurant or cook a new cuisine at home
- Take a trip to a place you’ve always wanted to see
- Go on a first date with your partner and pretend you don’t know each other, flirting a lot
- Share stories about the most entertaining episodes of your life
- Attend a live performance: theater, musical, stand-up comedy, or opera
- Learn a new sport together
Couples with great relationships fight right
Successful couples handle conflicts by being understanding and working together. It’s a myth that good relationships mean never having disagreements. Instead, happy couples appreciate different views. They figure out what’s really important and look for ways to compromise, aiming to understand each other better. These couples approach conflicts with love, openness, and humor. They keep showing affection even when they disagree, and they quickly try to fix things when tensions rise, helping each other out.
These couples understand that both partners influence the relationship, fostering teamwork. In the middle of a disagreement, they comfort each other, knowing they both want to succeed. Couples with strong connections realize that conflicts often point to unfulfilled dreams. This understanding helps them connect more deeply, focusing on empathy and closeness instead of discord.
Couples who stay together create a shared meaning
How do you create a shared meaning with your partner?
Rather than assuming they are on the same page, heading in the same direction – mutuality is reached through exploration. Never stop being curious about your partner. Ask your partner about their dreams and visions. Happy couples know and support each other’s dreams. They communicate and align shared dreams. Creating the bigger picture, a culture is nurtured around their relationship, with symbols of their love, stories they treasure and rituals for connection. These couples give their relationship a purpose, a meaning and a vision that propels them into the future they desire.
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