Tips to Strengthen Your Relationship for Long Term - Shared by Delhi's Eminent Marriage Counselor

Ever wondered what you should do to make your relationship long lasting or have you checked yourself if you are doing everything fine to make your relationship long lasting? Relationship Counsellor Shivani Misri Sadhoo shares (eminent psychologist in Delhi) some simple yet effective tips to make a relationship strong and long lasting.

1. Attention is your best gift: Attentiveness has the capacity to demonstrate commitment in any kind of relationship; it's an unspoken way to tell a person that you care and value him/her. If you are feeling tired or something has occupied your mind that can weaken your attention when your partner is telling you something – express your situation and request to postpone the discussion. You may hurt your partner at that moment, but it's far better if you pretend that you’re paying attention.

2. Accept your partner is a human being not God: Every human has both the positive and negative aspects, avoid being judgmental or refrain from talking about your partner’s weaknesses; instead practice to identify and appreciate your partner’s good qualities.

3. If you fight or argue: Look at your part in the conflict first rather than focusing only on your partner’s contribution. Your partner is more likely to acknowledge his or her contribution if you do the same. Research has shown that relationships fall into difficulty when partners begin to think ‘here we go again’ and this negative cycle results in loneliness, hurt and disappointment.

4. Accept that arguments will happen and it’s a natural phenomenon; when two people stay together, arguments are bound to happen. Instead of focusing on winning an argument, try to resolve it with your sincere efforts. The strongest predictor of divorce is ‘contempt’, which is any action whereby your partner feels ‘put down’ by you, whether it is the tone of your voice or what you say. Often in arguments, we become overwhelmed and this can often lead to behaviours that harm our relationship.

5. Stay calm during disagreements or if this is not possible, take time out. Taking an ‘us’ perspective that prioritises the relationship rather than a ‘you’ and ‘me’ perspective can be very useful.