There have been a thousand or more articles written about how to have a successful long-term relationship. So here’s the straight dope, from my experience.
1. Compromise: Relationships are about not only taking, but also giving.you cannot expect to receive something if you don’t offer on your own turn.
2. Communicate: Relationships live and die not by the sword, but by the amount of discussion. If two people can’t find a way to openly and honestly communicate their needs and feelings to one another, the relationship doesn’t stand much of a chance long-term.
3. Don’t Hide Your Needs: Two people will rarely have exactly the same wants and desires out of life — that’s just a fantasy. Instead, expect that sometimes your two paths will diverge. Express your needs at those crucial moments, but always find a way to do so respectfully and with an open mind.
4. Don’t underestimate the importance of trust and honesty: Different people have different areas of concern, but almost everyone values trust and honesty from their partner above all. Why? Because your partner is the one person you want to be able to depend upon in the long-term, without question or doubt.
