***This post was contributed and may contain affiliate links.
Has your relationship been in the red zone for longer than you care to admit? Have you both had enough? It might be time to make some changes. A lot of the time we avoid confronting problems because it seems easier than facing them. However, not addressing those problems may save you from having an awkward conversation, but it makes life harder. Why live in misery when you could solve the problem? The longer issues go unspoken, the more damage they can cause. Not sure how things could improve? These 3 effective ways to save your relationship are worth a try, at least.
Save Your Relationship #1: TALK TO EACH OTHER
It’s okay to need a heart to heart with your partner now and again. For various reasons, love can get off course. That’s not a problem, and there’s no shame in saying that you need a chat. The important thing here is that you’re talking, not shouting or accusing. The acrobats of talking can be tricky, and getting it wrong could be disastrous. Express, in a calm and fair manner, how you’re feeling. Invite him to express issues he’s having, too. Then, without getting offended or defensive, come up with a plan of action. Relationships are about giving and taking. You should both be willing to compromise. Small changes may be all you need to fall in love all over again!
Save Your Relationship #: GET HELP
If you’ve spoken to your partner and nothing’s changed, it may be time to take things to the next level. Couples therapy or hiring a relationship coach could be the help you both need. If you can’t raise the issues to each other without arguing, a counselor could help you both stay calm. Not to mention that he or she can provide you with a plan of action.
Seeking outside help, whether it’s from a book, a course, a therapist or coach could change everything. The other reason for seeking help is to work on yourselves as individuals, as well as a couple. Besides, nothing could be worse than having to get divorce mediation because you couldn’t move forward. In many cases, relationships heal by leaps and bounds even when one of you seek personal growth and change. It’s important to not demand anything from your partner. After all, if you want to improve the relationship, do your part first and watch how things change.
Save Your Relationship #3: REIGNITE THE ROMANCE
As well as taking the above steps, it’s important you take steps to reignite your romance. When we’ve been with the same person for a long time, it’s easy to get complacent. You’re both busy, so you don’t spend enough alone time together. You may be too tired to be intimate. Does that sound familiar?
Problems often start when one partner feels unappreciated and is triggered by this. It doesn’t have to be this way, though. Reignite your romance by making time for each other. Go out for meals. Have a conversation in the evening instead of putting the television on. Buy each other small gifts, just because. And remember to give each other plenty of physical affection. Something as simple as a kiss, or a squeeze of the hand, can show your love!
There may not be one set of steps that fit every relationship, but these 3 things should get you moving in the right direction. One thing is for sure if you love someone, and you have a deep history together, any effort to save your relationship is worth it.