Love, Dating, and Romance

What You Have To Do To Ensure A Happy Relationship

Relationship happiness and woes alike

Get ready for both. Yes. Into every relationship, a little rain must fall. Otherwise, how will it grow? Nobody likes to argue or have disagreements in a relationship. But that's part of it. And in the end, after you've worked things out, you might find you're actually a little closer to your partner because of it. If you think about it, it's just part of a learning process. You're learning about the other person, and he or she is learning about you. Since nobody is omniscient, mistakes will be made. At times, these mistakes can initially make the other person angry. How that is handled is one way to determine whether or not relationships thrive or collapse.

Handling conflicts that arise in relationships

Let's say your mate does something that really upsets you and you are livid. Are you more likely to:

A) Blow up at them about it right away, not taking time to get all the facts, and possibly even saying things you might later regret? Tempting as this is, is it really the best thing for your relationship?
B) Wait until you've calmed down to confront them about it, but do it in a rational way without yelling, name calling, etc.

The best answer, if you are interested in making this relationship work, is B. You're less likely to say things you'll regret saying later, and you're less likely to hurt the other person's feelings. After all, if your partner is someone who loves and respects you, why would he or she intentionally do something to hurt you or make you angry? Answer B is just good relationship advice. On the flip side, if your partner blows up at you for something (even if it was an honest mistake) are you going to mirror that behavior?

It's okay to defend yourself, but if you're wrong, admit it. Apologize, then if the person is still mad, give him or her space to get over the offense. If you and your partner don't learn to handle conflict in your relationship in a constructive manner, you could find yourselves breaking up and heading back out into the world of dating once again. And if that happens, well, at least you have Love, Dating, and Romance to give you the advice you need for the dating scene. Dogs.

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