Three things I’ve learned from my relationship

In honor of it being the month of Valentine’s Day, I figured a lil lovey-dovey post would be fitting. I’m one lucky gal to have a partner who has been nothing but great to me for the past year and a half. This is my first serious relationship, and I’ve learned a ton. I hope this helps guide some of y’all to build a healthy and loving relationship with your partner!

First and foremost, don’t settle! Throughout my younger years (I’m still young I know, but younger relative to now), I was guilty of trying to make unhealthy relationships work even though there was no basis for them to grow on. In the moment, I convinced myself that one day things would work out. I tried to settle in hopes that shit would somehow fall into place. Now that I’m with someone who has always gone the extra mile for me, I realize the saying “if they want to, they will” is so true. You can’t force someone to listen to your needs or wants. If someone truly cares about you and how you feel, they will ask. They will listen. They work to make sure that both sides of the relationship are healthy and happy. Don’t settle down for someone who isn’t treating you the way to deserve to be treated — know your worth!

Communicate, communicate, communicate. As much as I hate confronting issues, I’ve realized that being able to have hard conversations is necessary. They’re what make relationships stronger. We’re all guilty to some degree of making assumptions and jumping to conclusions. Assumptions do nothing but cause problems for absolutely no reason. Being able to comfortably talk to your partner is what helps to build a solid foundation. Talk about the hard stuff, the good stuff, all stuff. Be on the same page about life, your needs, and your wants. Good communication doesn’t mean you need to agree on everything or come to a perfect compromise every time. It means that you understand each other’s points of view. Being able to talk about things with an open mind and a desire to understand is key.

Give and take — some days your partner may be having a rough day. If you’re feeling like your best self, you should step up and do all that you can to show your support. When you’re having a bad day, you would want someone to do the same for you. You can’t both be 100% all the time, life just isn’t consistent for everyone. Being in a partnership means that you’re there to cheer each other on even through the toughest of times.

What are some of the most important things you’ve learned in your relationship? Let the world know in the comments below :)