7 common goals of couples headed for a healthy, long-lasting relationship
We all have relationship goals, and while you may think they are all obvious, this isn’t always necessarily the case for every couple.
In this article, we will look at the goals and stages every relationship needs to go through in order to achieve long-lasting success.
You may have experienced some of these in past relationships, while some you may not have encountered yet.
Take a look at 7 relationship goals your relationship should be pursuing if it is to be healthy and long-lasting.
1. Infatuation
This is the stage every new couple mostly enjoys and looks forward to – it’s the stomach butterflies and goose pimples stage.
If your heart starts beating faster each time your phone rings and you change outfits three times before you meet your date, you have achieved this goal.
It’s fun, exciting, and full of potential.
2. Discovery and connection
The discovery and connection stage is about giving and taking. It’s about asking yourselves what your life will be like as you move forward in this relationship. You may discover that your wants and needs have shifted over the years, but because you are both committed to making the relationship work, that is not an issue.
Should you happen to achieve this goal, you will learn more about each other than you ever dreamed of.
It’s namely the connection stage that makes couples come together in a closer and more meaningful way. No matter the situation, problem, or event, you find your way to each other and work through your issues together.
You celebrate more and search for the good in things together. At this point, this goal is about sharing life, rather than dominating it.
3. Working as a team
Too many couples become competitors in their own relationship instead of working as a team.
Let your goals become “whatever we face, we will face it together.”
Regardless of the nature of your issues, it is not one or the other person’s fault, it’s a problem you need to combat as a team, always!
4. The importance of intimacy
Couples that are intimate at least once per week report the highest levels of satisfaction in their relationships. If you are both so busy that you’ve come to the point where you have to schedule having sex, do not let the lack of spontaneity deter you in any way. A satisfying and healthy intimate life beyond the usual “honeymoon phase” is a vital relationship goal you simply must achieve in order to strengthen your bond.
5. Prioritize your relationship
Considering our terribly busy lives, it can be easy to put the needs of your relationship in the backseat. However, as with almost anything important in life, time and attention are crucial if you wish for your relationship to last. To strengthen your bond, be sure to make your relationship a priority. You can accomplish this by scheduling ‘couple time’, making sure that both of your needs are taken care of, and by showing appreciation for each other.
6. Always be there for each other
We all need and want to know that there is somebody by our side, who will support and listen to us when we are going through a rough moment in our life.
“Researchers have also discovered that believing support is available to you is even more important than the support you actually use.” say J. Markman, S. Stanley, and S. Blumberg in their book Fighting For Your Marriage
You must be that person for your partner. Always be ready to show your support as they go through the hurdles of life.
In such times, you must never argue, give unneeded advice, or pass judgments. Just be supportive!
7. Commit to building a shared future
In a world where mistrust, cheating, and differences of opinion are too common, one crucial relationship goal needs to be committed to for building a shared future.
For a couple to last and remain strong nowadays, parters should be on the same page when it comes down to which direction their life is to take. And while some compromises and flexibility are always important, couples should be able to give each other the stability they need.
As soon as you decide that your relationship is headed towards becoming serious, it’s crucial to make sure that both of you are on the same page when it comes to expectations. Strong couples are not afraid of talking about career, marriage, children, and other important things to factor into their plans. By talking it out early, you won’t run into too many unwanted surprises later on.
Did you find these tips helpful? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.