Welcome to Relationship Building week! We’ve decided to spend the next week offering articles to help you build your relationships by exploring concepts that help couples grow closer together. Part VII of our Relationship Building series focuses on rekindling the puppy love in your relationship.
One of the biggest complaints that couples have in a long term relationship is that the excitement isn’t really there anymore. All week we’ve discussed at length how routine and familiarity can make our relationships boring. The problem is that a lot of that “boring” life is what makes us feel secure in our relationship and our home life. As much as we want some excitement in our lives, we still want our relationships to be stable and secure. The key is to keep all the great things about your relationship but just add a little of the spice you had when you first started. At that point you can have the best of both worlds and it leads to feeling fulfilled on multiple levels.
In the beginning of our relationships there’s always an undeniable lustful energy that permeates through a couple. You go out together, you get a little crazy, and you have an amazing time. You don’t have the responsibilities of a committed couple yet, and it shows in your actions. The great part is that you’re having fun. The bad part is that you worry about things like the future, if the feelings are mutual, and where the relationship is headed. Once you’ve been together for a while, things start to change. You don’t worry about the same things anymore, as your time together has built trust between you and your comfort level with each other makes it easier to understand where each other is coming from. The bad part of that is that you’re so comfortable that the relationship loses some of that initial excitement and sexuality. So how can you get that back?
While our daily lives might not always feel sexy or spontaneous, we can easily shake it up. The good thing about being in a rut is that it doesn’t take much to get out of it. Choosing to spend a romantic (and slightly naughty) night at home with each other can make a huge difference in your opinion of your relationship. If you’re schedule is hectic (like most of ours are) plan time to have fun together or do something a little crazy. While it may lack the spontaneity of your younger days, it does offer the added anticipation factor. Anticipation is a great turn-on for most people, and knowing that you’re going to do something great in a few days can really get your blood flowing and excitement building towards your partner. Just like anything else in your relationship, open communication is key to finding out what works for both of you. Tell your partner what you feel is lacking in the relationship, and offer some suggestions on how you can both make it better. Allow them to offer suggestions to and work together to trying out some new things to spice up your relationship.
Relationships are tough, that’s why people can’t seem to stay together for long periods of time. We grow, we change, we want things and they don’t always match up over time. This past week we have discussed 7 ways that you can help make your relationship stronger with your partner, and keep your relationship going for a long time. While these are a great general guideline, the real secret to being able to stay together is to always be open about your needs with your significant other. The more you communicate, the better off you’ll both be in being able to stay in tune with each other over the long haul.
