Effective Strategies for Better Relationships
By Life Transformation Strategist
Angelika Matev
In this article, I’m going to share seven essential habits of strong couples that you can follow, to enjoy a happy and meaningful relationship.
Falling in love just happens, but creating a great relationship takes time, effort, and commitment.
Sharing good habits is a highly effective way to build a strong foundation for healthy and strong relationships.
Positive habits are empowering and can strengthen further the bond between partners.
How positive habits impact relationships
A romantic relationship is a magical union between two personalities, two inner worlds which together create new perceptions of reality and themselves, as individuals and as a couple.
The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances, if there is any reaction, both are transformed.
Forming certain positive habits that shape the relationship is a beautiful expression of loving togetherness. And, it is also a great way for partners to cherish and love each other even more.
I’ve learned from experience the importance of cultivating what I like to call a FREELATIONSHIP – a healthy union between two mature individuals connected with their true inner Self, who know how to blend love, passion, personal freedom, and friendship to create and enjoy a meaningful romantic relationship.
I’ve worked with couples who felt disconnected in their relationship and were growing apart as a result.
Analyzing partners’ personalities and the dynamics of their relationship through their birth charts and synastry chart readings, from a psychological perspective, is a very effective way to identify the underlying issues, which could potentially turn them into estranged partners.
Some of the strategies I recommend to my clients to remedy such situations include creating positive habits in their relationship, which always leads to a significant improvement of their life as a couple.
"Love cures people—both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it."
7 Essential Habits of Strong Couples:
Essential Habit 1 > Show your love and appreciation for your partner every day.
Take every opportunity to show your partner how much you love and appreciate them.
Express your feelings with words and gestures, be affectionate, caring, warm, and genuinely interested in your partner’s beliefs, desires, and dreams. Let your love inspire you to find and invent a variety of beautiful ways to make your partner feel special!
Make time to snuggle and cuddle and use the enchanting power of physical touch to express how happy you are in each other’s arms.
Look into each other’s eyes more often for a deeper, at a soul level connection.
Show that you care about everything that matters to your partner, including their hobbies, their friends and family, and the things he/she is truly passionate about.
You may not be able to share and enjoy all the activities that your partner likes. But, when you encourage them to spend time doing what they want, they will feel understood and happy to support you in return.
Love grows by sharing, and when both partners embrace giving and expressing their love for one another, they gradually build a solid foundation for their happiness together.
Essential Habit 2> Respect Each Other.
If we love someone for who they truly are, respect comes naturally.
Happy couples respect each other not only for their personalities, skills, and qualities but for everything they have been through and the significant experiences in their life stories that have shaped their characters.
Never disrespect your partner and never criticize them in front of other people! Nothing ruins a relationship like a demonstration of disrespect, especially when done in public.
You can respect a person without loving them, but if you love someone and you do not respect them, it’s simply not real love, and it won’t last.
The respect for the one we love is a measure of our own level of integrity and maturity.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Essential Habit 3 > Enjoy common interests together.
Make a conscious effort to get to know your partner’s likes and dislikes, hobbies and interests. And, if they do the same, both of you will have a clear idea on how to make the most of your time together and choose activities that you both enjoy.
Try new things together. Experiment in the kitchen, take up a new sport or dancing classes, travel to exciting destinations! New, shared experiences are the best way to create your story as a happy couple.
Start your own couple/family traditions and look forward to that particular time or event that would have a special meaning for you and your partner.
Make your love a priority.
Surprise each other with romantic gestures, escape from your busy schedules together, look for new ways to experience your relationship, with passion and joy. Remind yourselves how blessed and happy you are to be together!
And laugh together, as often as you can. A great, compatible sense of humor is the secret ingredient of healthy & happy relationships!
Essential Habit 4 > Solve problems as a team.
Strong couples solve problems as a team. They don’t keep problems to themselves and they are not afraid to tell their partner when they need help.
Being supportive is another expression of love and care. However, some people make the mistake of taking this for granted or considering it their partner’s obligation.
Every helping gesture requires appreciation and should be accepted with gratitude for both partners to feel comfortable asking for help and rely on each other.
That’s called interdependence – the union of two independent, authentic people. This, unlike co-dependency, is productive and empowering as it builds trust and solidifies both partners’ commitment to the relationship.
Essential Habit 5 > Learn how to handle arguments.
Disagreements are part of every relationship. How we handle them is what really matters.
Attack the problem, not your partner and don’t approach the argument with your wounded ego. Do it with emotional intelligence and maturity instead.
Express your concerns, pain and anger, but don’t get blinded by them! Don’t antagonize your partner, try to see the issue from their perspective and look for mutually acceptable ways to resolve the conflict.
Here’s another article on fighting fairly: READ HERE.
Often, we are not mad at the other person just because they said or did something that hurt us. Deep down, we’re angry also because their words or actions hurt the relationship as well and killed the joy of loving and feeling loved. When the person we love triggers negative emotions, we feel betrayed and we suffer. We are pushed to replace affection with disappointment and frustration. This can be quite bitter and enraging.
Help yourself and your partner overcome the occasional roadblocks and bumps in your relationship. Let love guide you and teach you how to heal and restore genuine connection and intimacy.
Essential Habit 6 > Forgive.
Love is impossible without forgiveness.
It hurts when our partners wrong us, but being able to forgive is an act of kindness, wisdom, and true love. However, make sure that forgiving does not become a habit! We shouldn’t forgive or expect forgiveness too often.
Remember, when we love, we forgive, but the more we have to forgive, the less we love.
Use mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow together.
A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.
~ Ruth Bell Graham ~
Essential Habit 7 > Master the Art of Communication & Conversation.
Open communication is a vital component of every strong relationship.
Successful communication means being honest, specific, and considered. Also, it means active listening, understanding and respect for different views and opinions.
There are various types of communication, and not all of them are verbal. Body language, facial expression, even silence are all ways through which a person expresses and shows their emotions and feelings. Take notice of those too as they help to know your partner and ‘decode’ their reactions even better.
A conversation is the most direct and efficient way of communication.
Having a conversation is more than just communicating. It is talking to people on a deeper level while listening to understand their thoughts and ideas. It’s how we connect with and learn from others.
There is a difference between communication and conversation. Communication is when you share your knowledge with others without asking for their input. Dialogue, on the other hand, involves the exchange of information, ideas and opinions between two or more people.
There is power in the art of conversation, but not everyone feels the same about it. For some, participating in a lengthy discussion can be stressful and difficult, depending on whether they prefer to listen or would rather do more of the talking.
Learn your partner’s communication style, adapt to it, and encourage them to do the same. Messages come across much better when the parties involved in a conversation feel comfortable and acknowledged in their need to express themselves in a way that feels natural to them.
Deep, honest and meaningful conversations between partners are crucial for the stability of the relationship.
Summary:
The 7 Essential Habits of Strong Couples
- Show your love daily
- Respect each other
- Develop common interests
- Handle problems together
- Fight Fair
- Forgive
- Master communication
In Conclusion:
In conclusion, if you create and follow these 7 essential habits of strong couples, they will help to improve your relationship and will also help you grow individually and as a couple.
As amazing as love is, it requires a lot of work and conscious efforts and there is always something new that we can learn about the art of loving.
I have experienced different relationships throughout my life and learned many lessons that now help me to enjoy a delightful marriage!
I share my knowledge and experience through my work, and I have made it my mission to help couples who need guidance, direction and effective strategies to make their relationships stronger and happier.
Finally, if you’d like to learn more about my work and methodology, and you need more support, reach out and book a free consultation to see if we are a good fit to work together.
