When two individuals meet, an attraction exists or it does not. If the attraction exists between two people, both parties are invested in the conversation or interaction. Attraction will keep the two intrigued long enough to find if there is something substantial to develop a deeper connection. However, if the attraction is not present, the situation becomes slightly more challenging. A witty statement, intellectual banter, or some other course of circumstances may encourage the two to learn more about one another or abandon the interaction entirely.
If the two people venture to know one another in depth, the courtship may run one of two courses. The initial phase of infatuation may allow the two individuals to progress without many problems cited. The two may feel like kindred spirits and desire nothing more than to be with that person as frequently as humanly possible. In other instances, one or both parties may be reticent and the attraction develops slowly. In either case, both parties will experience a point in the relationship where there is conflict.
When couples pass the honeymoon period many begin to wonder, “How do I make this relationship work?”
The truth is that there is no set formula. However, individuals can be proactive in their relationships to avoid dissent before it arises. When conflict does arise, couples must be prepared to manage the differences experienced between the individuals.
Many successful couples maintain their own identities, while being attentive to their partners needs. Awareness of your partner’s needs develops through communication. Many individuals have relationships that are purely based upon physical attraction. This type of relationship quickly dissolves if a partner becomes ill, unemployed, or if someone more attractive comes along. Relationships built upon a foundation of trust, honesty, and communication will withstand most disagreements if the foundation is properly established.
Compatibility must first be established. Before any relationship can work, there must first be a certain level of compatibility. Two individuals who have absolutely nothing in common and have dissimilar temperaments will find a relationship more difficult to develop. Those who have similar temperaments and similar interests will be more likely to communicate and negotiate with one another. While in some cases opposites do attract, this is not the norm. Therefore, communication may become more difficult, though not impossible, without a point of commonality.
Once compatibility is established, couples may engage in preventative maintenance in their relationship. Listening to your partner and identifying those things that will make his or her life simpler will score many points. For instance, many mates may bring their significant other gifts on special occasions. However, if the mate performs a task that he or she knows annoys the mate, such as taking out the trash, paying the bills, or hiring a maid, the mate’s mind will be relieved of these tasks. Therefore, both parties will have more energy to talk and create intimacy in the relationship, rather than arguing over tasks.
More than 20 percent of spouses cheat in a relationship, and 50 percent of marriages end in divorce in the first 15 months. Therefore, it is imperative to communicate in a relationship in order to determine what each partner is seeking. If an individual is not aware of his or her partner’s needs, the partner may be tempted to cheat or leave. Rifts also occur when a partner is aware of certain behaviors, but does not approve. In both instances, the couple must weigh the pros and cons. Determine if the behavior in discussion is more important than the relationship. If the behavior is more important than compromise, then the two people are not compatible and should part ways. However, if the relationship is more important, communicate to find a solution.
