Contributed by: kellyseal on Friday, November 18 2011 @ 09:27 am
Last modified on
Kim Kardashian and her soon-to-be ex-husband were only married 72 days before she filed for divorce. Other celebrities haven't had much success at long-lasting love either - (Britney Spears or Drew Barrymore anyone?) While it's definitely harder to keep a marriage together when the spotlight is always on you, it's also a reminder that relationships have to have a good foundation to last.
If you're considering taking the next step with someone you're dating and becoming more serious, following are some tips to make sure you're both on the same page - before you decide to walk down the aisle:
Be yourself. The more you try to hide your fears and bad habits from your boyfriend or girlfriend, the more barriers you build in communication. The more comfortable you are being yourself in front of him, the more you can open yourself up in the relationship and the more connected you'll feel. Celebrities may spend a lot of time crafting their images, which doesn't leave much room for honesty and intimacy.
Give your relationship as much attention as your career. If your relationship is long-distance, or if you're both workaholics with crazy travel schedules, check in with each other often. It's important to put your relationship front and center to keep it going, and not rely on five minutes squeezed between meetings or a weekend here or there. It's important to spend quality day-to-day time with someone to really know if they are right for you.
Don't be a narcissist. Instead of criticizing what your partner should be doing and making the relationship all about your needs, learn to communicate with each other. Each person has needs and wants to be heard. When you acknowledge where you've made mistakes and really listen to what the other person is saying, you do the relationship a favor and leave room for both of you to grow.
Treat each other with respect. Relationships are built on a foundation of mutual love and respect. If one is missing, it will soon be really apparent that it's not going to last. Instead of always wanting to be right and blaming your partner if you're unhappy, learn to compromise. Recognize that you won't always agree, but that each of you deserves to have your own opinions, thoughts, and experiences. The more you can share, the better.
Take your time. This is very important, because often couples fall in love and think that the heady feelings will ensure a lasting relationship. Unfortunately, love doesn't work this way. It's all about how you treat the relationship: how much time, effort, and love you put into it, and whether it's reciprocal. Take your time and really get to know the person you're considering being with for the rest of your life.