10 tips for a struggling partner: understanding and maintaining relationships

Building a strong and healthy relationship requires many factors and is easier said than done, but whether you are a young couple just starting out or have been together for years, it's essential to continuously work on your relationship to ensure its success. In this article, I will provide relationship advice for young and older couples and offer 10 tips for building a healthy and fulfilling partnership. No matter what obstacles you may be facing, these 10 tips are sure to help you out.



1. Effective Communication: Communication is vital to any successful relationship. Never expect your partner to know what you’re thinking. No matter how hard it may be to open up and voice your feelings, it must be done if you want a healthy relationship. Take the time to communicate your senses and take your partner's thoughts and feelings into account. Emotions should be expressed without judgment on both ends and should be expressed respectfully. Be open, honest, and transparent with each other, fostering trust and understanding.

2. Resolve Conflicts: Disagreements and conflicts are bound to happen; if they don’t, something is wrong. Instead of avoiding them, address the issues head-on. Civilly confront your partner. Find a time when both partners are calm and willing to discuss the problem. Take accountability and expect the same from your partner, but don’t demand it. Let them do this independently, rather than blaming or criticizing your partner, Focus on finding a solution together because, at the end of the day, having the mentality that you always have to “win” the argument will bring temporary satisfaction to a lifelong issue.

3. Show Appreciation: Appreciation is a big part of a healthy relationship. It allows your partner to feel seen and boosts their confidence and security. Acknowledge their big and small efforts, and let them know how much you value and love them. Small gestures, such as saying thank you, giving compliments, or leaving cute notes, can go a long way in strengthening your bond. Don’t assume that they know you’re appreciative towards them because the fact is that most partners need reassurance.



4. Spend Quality Time Together: With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it's easy to neglect spending quality time with your partner. Make a conscious effort to set aside dedicated time for each other, free from distractions. Engage in activities you enjoy, such as walking, watching movies, or cooking together. This will help you reconnect and deepen your emotional connection.

5. Support Each Other's Goals: In a healthy relationship, both partners should support each other's dreams and aspirations. Encourage your partner to pursue their passions and be their biggest cheerleader. Show genuine interest in their goals and offer assistance whenever needed. Your support will create a strong foundation of trust and respect in your relationship.

6. Maintain Individuality: While nurturing your relationship is essential, it's equally vital to maintain your individuality. Allow each other to have hobbies, interests, and friendships outside the relationship. This will not only prevent feelings of suffocation and dependency but also help you grow as individuals, making your bond even stronger.



7. Understand the Power of Forgiveness: Forgiveness is not about excusing or accepting the hurtful actions of your partner. Instead, it is a conscious decision to let go of negative emotions and allow healing. Forgiveness empowers you to regain control over your feelings, fostering a positive environment for growth and understanding.

8. Practice Self-Reflection: Examine your own contributions to the conflict. Acknowledge any role you may have played in the situation and take responsibility for it. Self-reflection helps you better understand yourself and your partner, fostering personal growth and resilience within the relationship.

9. Trust: Trust is the bedrock of a healthy relationship. It's the belief that your partner has your best interests and will act in your favor. Building trust takes time and consistency. Be reliable, keep your promises, and avoid betraying your partner's trust. Trust also involves giving your partner the benefit of the doubt and believing in their intentions, even in difficult times.

10. Compromise: Relationships are about finding a middle ground. Compromise involves making joint decisions and finding solutions that satisfy both partners. It's not about winning or losing but finding a balance that respects both individual needs and desires. Compromising shows a willingness to understand and support each other, fostering a harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship



Here’s some advice from a wife and mother to young couples, partners in struggling marriages, and people trying to find a long-term partner, Building a healthy relationship is often portrayed as a fairytale, filled with passion, bliss, and eternal happiness, and while this sometimes is true, the reality of relationships goes beyond these romanticized notions. It requires effort, commitment, and open communication. It is about embracing each other's flaws, supporting one another's dreams, and growing together. It is a compromise, sacrifice, change, and stepping out of your comfort zone. It's acknowledging that disagreements and conflicts are inevitable, but how we handle them truly defines the strength of a relationship. It's accepting the harsh reality that love is not always enough and that compromise and sacrifice are vital in building a healthy connection. It's about vulnerability and creating a safe space for honesty and openness. Building a healthy relationship means accepting that it won't always be easy, but it's worth it because true love is built on trust, respect, and unwavering support. It's about recognizing that we all have flaws yet choosing to love and appreciate each other despite those imperfections. In the reality of relationships, it's the little things, the late-night conversations, and the unwavering loyalty that genuinely makes a relationship thrive, the small acts of service like making their favorite food or vice versa, knowing little facts about one another. It's about growing together, learning from each other's mistakes, taking accountability for your own, and celebrating each other's successes. Building a healthy relationship is not a fairytale but a beautiful journey filled with ups and downs and the ability to weather the storms together. No matter what anyone says, relationships are complicated. Marriages are even more complex, and the sooner both partners accept that the sooner you can start building your relationship. Always remember that a relationship without disagreement, compromise, change, and sacrifice is not good. These are the building blocks required to grow in a relationship as a couple and as individuals.