Five Things Successful People Do In Relationships

As a busy professional, you focus on success in business. But do you focus on that same thing in your relationships? Here are key factors in maintaining a happy and healthy relationship with your partner.

Communication. This sounds obvious, but I am sometimes amazed to find how much people keep from their partner. Honesty is key, and it’s important to know that it is okay to feel the way you feel. Your feelings are your own and addressing them can actually strengthen your relationship. Be direct, your partner can handle it! Open communication is the foundation to any long-term relationship, whether it be business or personal.

Boundaries. This ties in with communication. Boundaries are what set the space between where you end and the other person begins. In order to establish boundaries, you need to be clear with your partner about who you are, what you want, your beliefs and values, and just as importantly, your limits. Some people believe that if they are in the right relationship, there is no need for boundaries, but this is simply not true. You are not the same person as your partner, and your needs, even if greatly aligned, will differ. Successful people define their boundaries and respect the boundaries of their partner.

Don’t Forget Romance. As you get further along in a relationship, it is common for the excitement of new love to fade a bit. Romance can dry up as you settle into the patterns of everyday life. This is okay, because it usually means you have found a steady and long-term love. However, it’s important to make sure the romance doesn’t go away completely. Successful people date their partners, even if they are married. They set aside time to do something special. Channel that inner playfulness that you experienced when you first met: surprise your partner with something thoughtful, or an experience tailor-made just for them. A grand gesture is rarely overrated! It’s important to make your partner feel special, whether it be 1, 5, or 10 years into your relationship.

Don’t Lose Yourself. It’s easy to let “I” become “we” but it’s also important to maintain some of your individuality while in a relationship. Your partner fell in love with YOU, so you don’t want to lose sight of who that is! Make sure you set aside time to enjoy the activities and the people that you enjoy.

Fight The Right Way. One of the most important keys to a successful relationship is conflict resolution. Unresolved conflict is like poison in any relationship and will keep popping up, so it is important to quickly resolve any issues through open and honest communication. Knowing your partner’s Love Language is helpful in understanding how they give and receive love, and how they address conflict ties into this. Perhaps your partner’s primary love language is Physical Touch. When discussing an issue, you would want to touch your partner in a loving way while speaking, because this hands-on approach will convey the love behind your words and make your partner more willing to listen, even if it is something they don’t want to hear. Understanding your partner’s communication needs is just as important as understanding your own!

#Jolene