What Does it Take to Maintain a Quality Relationship?

You don't realize just how much you do when it comes to connecting with a partner until you sit down and think about it.  Any one who says that a relationship is easy to maintain is most likely with someone who doesn't expect to much.  But for those who are with individuals who are demanding, have a personality disorder, or a long history of emotional as well as physical baggage, it isn't easy being in a relationship with them.  So here is a brief list of the many things that couples do to keep their relationship going:

1.  They talk to one another and share things like: household responsibilities, work days, children's needs, family events, and personal issues.

2.  They make time to connect with one another emotionally and physically such as complimenting, joking, sharing fun moments, etc.

3.  They remember to do things for one another.

4.  They enjoy going out with one another.

5.  They know how to give one another space.

6.  They feel good about the relationship.  In other words, they are not concerned about one another leaving, cheating, separating, plotting revenge, etc. every time they do something wrong.

7.  They typically exercise their faith or do positive things that keep them mentally and physically strong whether together or elsewhere.

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How Do You Know a Bad Relationship will Get Better?

A relationship that has some light at the end of the tunnel just might survive.  But how do you know if there is any light/hope/better days? 


1.  You and your partner will finally make up in your minds to stop the foolishness.  Anything or anyone who keeps bringing trouble to your relationship will be cut off, cut out, or cut back.


2.  When you look in the mirror and recognize the error of your ways, you come to the understanding that you must do something.  The self-reflection haunts you like a bad memory and you can't seem to shake it until you start doing something.


3.  You or your partner will start seeking out counsel in media and elsewhere for whatever is upsetting the relationship.  You will actually start implementing the advice given to you.


4.  When you make necessary adjustments that have been hindering progress based on what your partner has told you about yourself, you are well on your way to a better relationship.


5.  When your partner comes to the realization to stop blaming and start changing, he or she is still in it for the long haul.  Sometimes you see this when he or she apologizes, cries, and works hard to do some things differently.


There is hope for those couples who are in a downward spiral, but those who have no desire to make it work anymore might stick around for awhile (just after the New Year), but once their minds are made up, they aren't staying.


Nicholl McGuire

Communication is Always the Key to Good Relationships

Learning to communicate is not easy and even people who have been married for decades will sometimes need to enlist the help of a marriage therapist to help them learn how to better communicate with each other. There is no shame in hiring a counselor to help you. After all, communication is always the key to good relationships.
Many people have been taught that the best way to deal with a problem is to simply wait for the problem to go away or to ignore it. Both men and women will admit that they sometimes deal with conflicts by pushing down their emotions instead of confronting them.
While conflict might seem like something best avoided, the truth is that conflict must be dealt with. If conflict is left unresolved, it will simply fester and grow. The key to dealing with conflict, as any trained counselor will tell you, is knowing how to properly communicate with each other to work through a problem. Here are some hints:
1. Use "I" statements. Instead of telling your husband or wife all of the things that they are doing that make you angry or upset, tell your husband or wife how you are feeling. For example, say "I feel taken for granted when the cleaning is left for me," instead of "you never throw away your trash!" The first way tells your partner how you are feeling. The second way blames your partner for your feelings. Nobody likes to be blamed for things.
2. Ask clarifying questions. If your husband or wife says something that you do not understand, ask them to clarify their statements. Instead of saying "that doesn't make any sense at all!" try "I don't understand what you mean by that. Could you give me an example" or say "so are you saying that..." and insert your interpretation of his or her words.
3. Don't automatically assume that you understand exactly what is going on inside your partner's brain. Your marriage therapist will work with you to keep you from telling the other person what they are thinking or feeling "you always think that" or "you always feel" are not good examples of good communication. Instead ask "do you feel" or "do you think that" and allow your partner to answer the question!
4. Open ended questions are vital to good communication. If you ask a question that can be answered in a yes or a no, you give your spouse the opportunity to shut down and shut you out. Asking questions that need real answers will help you get the conversational ball rolling.
A marriage therapist will help you work on non confrontational communication that will help you resolve conflicts faster and in ways that make both of you feel better about the problems that you have been facing.

By Anna Woodward
By seeking the help of a marriage therapist, you can address the various problems and concerns of your marital life and ensure that you find marital bliss soon. 

7 Tips to a Long & Healthy Relationship

What makes some Relationships last longer than others? Is there some type of magic spell, or a special pill, that seems to hold people together longer than others? There just might be! Some couples just seem to sit back & sulk, while some others just seem to let life go by right over their heads.

Or maybe it's just that some couples pick up tips of relationship success from their grandparents, relatives or other friends. Since the latter is probably true, here are some tried & true tips that have helped couples enjoy long & happy relationships.

1. Be Nostalgic - When you first got together as a couple, there was something that bonded the two of you to each other. When times start to get difficult, take the time to reflect back on what brought the two of you together & use that common bond to build a foundation to work from to overcome your current difficulties.

2. Date Night - Just because the two of you are now in a long term relationship doesn't mean that the dating & romance has to diminish. Even if the day seems too busy, you can always end the evening with something light & easy. For example, light a candle & set it on the table, even if you are eating take-out or pizza. Or, tape your favorite TV show if the two of you aren't going to be home & then cuddle on the couch & watch it together before turning in for the night.

3. Don't Stop Having Fun - Remember when you first started dating your partner, how much fun you had together? But then once dating turns into a relationship, some couples seem to start getting too serious all the time, which can take the fun out of the relationship. Don't let that happen to you.

4. Learn to Move on instead of Looking Back - Bad things happen. It's a part of any relationship. But you don't have to dwell on them. When something does happen, be the first to apologize & make up. Don't dwell on what happened. Go for it! You'll be surprised at the results.

5. Give Each Other Some Room - This comes down to trust, which is a big part of every relationship. You can't spend 24/8/365 together. It's just not healthy to the relationship. It's just a fact of life that people need time alone & with friends. Be sure to give your partner space to breathe. It can work wonders for relationships.

6. Agree To Disagree - Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could agree with each other on everything? Not going to happen. And that's OK! Just learn to deal with it. You don't HAVE to agree on everything. Just remember that you don't have to recreate the wheel just to make both of you happy. Just agree to disagree.

7. Make Lasting Memories - No need to be elaborate about it. One of my favorite memories is a trip we took when we first started dating to Lookout Mountain in Chatanooga, TN. I really don't know why. But it stuck in my mind. We now make it an annual event to make that trip. For you, it may be a Restaurant that you ate at, a movie that you saw, or just a day that became special to you. The important thing is to remember these, & then share them together. Next year, make plans to do the same thing. It's these times that we remember forever & make us special to each other.

There is no pill or nothing magical about making a relationship work. It is the two people involved working together to make it magical for them. What is magical for one couple, may not be for another. But if you follow these tried & true tips, it is possible that you can improve your relationship. Don't sit back & sulk. Don't let life fly by over your head. Grab the bull by the horns & ride it for all you are worth!!

Gina G. has published many articles on Relationships, Getting Back A Lost Love, & Weight Loss. She is also a published ebook author, her latest being "How To Get Your Ex Lover Back". You can view it at http://getmyexloverbacktoday.com.

She also has put out some special reports that you can get for free by signing up for one of her two newsletters from her main site at http://freerelationshiptips.net. The Free Reports you can claim are: 101 Romantic Ideas, Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask, The Males Guide To Female Pleasures & The 5 Big Sex Myths. Plus, you won't believe what is revealed to you within the first 5 days of her newsletter! Simply visit her main site to sign up for free.

Will Your Relationship Last Forever?

Author: Damian Miles

Do you realize that it is perfectly possible for you to have a relationship that lasts forever? And a relationship that is not just normal, or struggling, but that is consistently great. I believe that you can have a relationship where you are soul mates with your partner, and in love, and that you can have this over many many years until your are finally separated by death.

I call such a relationship, a “lifelong soul mate relationship.”

I know that you hope for such a lifelong soul mate relationship, but I suspect that you believe that it is only possible for you in some abstract kind of way. You may even believe that such a relationship is not possible outside of fairy tales.

It is possible for you to have a lifelong soul mate relationship, and there is simple first step to achieving this.

The first step is to see if a relationship, or a prospective relationship has the potential to be a lifelong soul mate relationship.

With regard to achieving a soul mate relationship all people can be divided into three categories. These are: (1) those in relationships that will never become lifelong soul mate relationships, (2) those in relationships that can become lifelong soul mate relationships, and (3) those currently not in a relationship.

(1) Relationships that will never become lifelong soul mates.

No matter how much you want your relationship to work, if your partner does not want it to work, then it won’t. As the saying goes, it takes two to tango. Many people actually do not want to be a lifelong soul mate, preferring instead a much lesser relationship. If your partner is one of these, you have a simple choice to make, Settle for a relationship that falls far short of being a lifelong soul mate relationship, or get a new relationship. The choice is yours. The rules for having a lifelong soul mate relationship will help you judge your current relationship to see if there is any possibility of it becoming such a relationship.

(2) Those relationships that have the potential to become lifelong soul mate relationships.

These are relationships where both parties are committed to the relationship, committed to a future together, and both are interested in deepening the relationship. The chances of this type of relationship becoming a lifelong soul mate relationship are good. And remember the rules for achieving this relationship are easy to follow.

(3) Those that are not currently in a relationship

For those that are not yet in a relationship the lifelong soul mate rules can be used to judge any prospective partner, increasing the likelihood that any relationship that you are about to enter into will be a lifelong soul mate relationship.

So, take the first step to a lifelong soul mate relationship, and decide which of the above three categories your relationship fits into.

About the Author:

Damian Miles is a life coach and NLP Practitioner and an expert in helping people to live the life of their dreams, and helping people become Powerfully Positive People. For more information on how you can start living your dream life, or on how to become a Powerfully Positive Person and start doing so TODAY check out Damian's website at http://www.liveyourdreamlifetoday.co.uk

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Will Your Relationship Last Forever?

Relationship Commitment - A Healthy Relationship Starts With You

It has been proven that a healthy mind and a healthy body can contribute to a healthy relationship.

When you begin a new relationship with someone, you obviously want it to last as long as possible. Your relationship can last if you build a healthy relationship. However in order to have a strong relationship with someone, YOU must have a healthy mind and body and you must make that commitment to attain that status.

So how do you make a relationship healthy?

First, a healthy mind is when you have good self-esteem and confidence of who you are and what you want out of life. A healthy mind gives you independence so that you rely on yourself to get matters done and therefore not dependent on your significant other.

An unhealthy mind though is when you have little or no self-esteem and no confidence in yourself. The lines of communication become non-existent because you withdraw into your own world and just look to your partner for guidance on your life, which puts a burden on him or her. An unhealthy mind is also when you are still thinking of your old flame, this can be considered as emotionally unstable. This definitely will not help your new relationship and if you are in this situation, you must deal with it first before you lose your current relationship.

Second, a healthy body is when you take care of yourself. This means, you try to keep a healthy weight and you care about your appearances, how you look and feel on a daily basis. If you are a smoker, try to quit, if you drink excessively, try to stop, or any other bad habit or addiction you might have that would cause harm to your body in the long run.

Another healthy body tip is to exercise regularly to keep your heart functioning smoothly and eat a sensible diet, and yes , you can splurge once in awhile as a reward. Facts show that exercise boosts up the moral, and depression can be avoided. Your attitude becomes a positive one that makes your mate want to spend time with you. As you can see healthy mind and healthy body go hand in hand.

In retrospect, an unhealthy body is when you don’t care enough about yourself to take care of your body. If you have picked up bad habits or addictions such as smoking, drinking, drugs, (or gambling which is becoming an increasing problem) in time you will let yourself go. If you eat a lot of junk food and your waistline is expanding, this is unhealthy for your body and might bring you down because you will not like how you look like anymore.

Because you don’t care about yourself anymore, you don’t try to exercise, your attitude is poor, the result is a relationship that collapses because your partner is not willing to spend any time with you anymore. You can not blame your partner because if you can not even love you, why should he?

When your mind and body are in sync with one another, you can acquire a positive attitude, and this keeps the line of communication going with your significant other. When your mind is 'clear' it allows you to listen to your partner and helps you support them whenever they require it (and vice versa). You are more likely to do what it takes to maintain that relationship in tip-top shape so that it continues to flourish.

Work hard on avoiding those pitfalls and take a stand on your mental and physical health. You are human, so setbacks are sure to happen, but do not let them destroy your state of mind or affect your health for the long run. Remember, if you are not happy or healthy how can you have a healthy relationship!

To discover more about relationship commitment or any other life commitment, visit website www.Life-Commitment.com