How to Maintain Lasting Relationships

We have all heard the old adages of relationships– “don’t go to bed angry,” “compromise,” “don’t say anything you might regret,” but here are a few modern tips on how to maintain lasting relationships.

Excitement
One of the first things anyone looks for in a companion is excitement. No one wants to talk to, hang out with, date, or marry someone who is not interesting. This is the first key to maintaining your relationship. Women need a man who is able to keep her interested. However, each woman is very different. What is interesting to one, is likely not to another. It is vital to your relationship to find out what will keep her interested. No, you don’t have to go to ballroom dancing class with her, or to get a manicure, or shopping…unless you want to.

This type of excitement pertains to the relationship itself. Have you ever noticed that most women go for the “bad guy?” It isn’t because he is a bad guy; it is because he keeps her interested. A great way to create some excitement is changing up the routine a bit- have dinner already prepared when she gets home, surprise her with concert tickets, or simply send her flowers at work for no reason. Women don’t want you to offer to help with dinner when its half-way done, or beg you to take them out on the town; and they love to make other women envious of their partner (hence the spontaneous flowers). It’s important to remember that some women love spontaneity while others are planners.

So, be exciting accordingly. If she loves to do things spur of the moment, surprise her with tickets for a romantic getaway the day of. If she is a planner, make all the arrangements well ahead of time and surprise her well in advance.

Unity
The second key to a successful relationship is unity. Women in relationships want to be part of a team. If children are involved, it’s important to be a unit, not against the kids, but as an authority to them. Women don’t want to be undermined in front of the children, or anyone else for that matter. It’s important to stick together. With or without children, social situations are an important part of couples’ lives.

Women want to feel that you are proud to be with them. They want to be shown off. Why else would they spend hours getting dressed? Introduce your partner to your friends as you would your car. Tell them all her best qualities. In public, women still want to be your partner, part of the team, part of the unit. But, more importantly, they want others to recognize that you are a happy couple. So, when out and about, don’t be afraid to show a little affection. This shows her that you are not ashamed of her, and gives her something to brag about to her friends.

Women are competitive. They want friends to say, “Wow, he is great. I wish my husband would do that for me. You are so lucky.” It’s the ultimate victory.

Responsiveness
The third key is closely related to listening, but it is more than that- it’s responsiveness. When a woman talks to you, she of course expects you to listen. But, more importantly, she wants you to respond. Conversation is a vital aspect of any relationship. It shows that you care, and that you want to be an active participant in her life.

Simply nodding as you watch the game won’t cut it. Whether you have to buy TiVo, or throw out the TV all together, you should pay attention and respond. If it is impossible for you to be responsive to your partner, be sure to let her know why, and offer a time to talk about her problems later in the day.

For example, “I’m very busy with work right now, but I would love to talk to you about this during dinner.” This way, she knows that you want to talk about it, and you aren’t just blowing her off.

Individuality
The final key to a lasting relationship is probably the simplest concept, and yet the most difficult to accomplish. It is individuality. Both participants in a relationship must be able to express themselves as an individual. Women must be able to have alone time, time with girlfriends and time with their partner. This is essential to a successful relationship.

Without time away, women will begin to feel smothered in most cases. Freedom is essential to a woman. This, of course, is true of both men and women. So, it is important for both parties to have individual lives. No one wants to feel that their partner is holding them back. That way of thinking leads to resentment for the relationship. At the same time, you must be able to support one another. If she wants to finish college, find a way to make it work. Otherwise, you’ll both end up unhappy and resentful of one another. On the same note, it is important that both parties involved in the relationship just be themselves.

Don’t try to be someone you aren’t to make her fall for you. Once you are happy with yourself as a person, your relationship will thrive.

So, in summary, women want an exciting, responsive, man who is not afraid to be himself and is willing to be team player. Doesn’t sound too difficult, does it?