Love Forum Advice, Marital Advice, Divorce Advice, Dating Advice

The formula for a successful love relationship is, without a doubt, something that all couples want to know. If it can be packaged and sold, it will undoubtedly sell like crazy; it will be gone from the shelves faster than anyone can say “I do!”

But the truth is that, the formula for success is not that hard to figure out. Using common sense, plus insights garnered from a long observation of couples who stick it out and couples who split, certain qualities or elements can be identified as crucial in maintaining a love relationship. These elements are: first of all, true love, which is the most important one; patience; communication; and an unwavering commitment to making the relationship last despite any problems.

Love, the first element, hardly needs any explanation. There must be mutual and true love in the relationship. It might be possible to make the love relationship survive even if only one partner or spouse is actually in love, but it will be very difficult. It too will be unfair for that person, as he/she will likely have to endure great sacrifices to keep the relationship afloat. He/She will do much of the work of keeping the union intact, and it will probably burn him out emotionally. In the end, both partners will not be happy, and it may be best if they just part ways and search for that real Mr. or Ms. Right.

Moreover, true love does not mean just simple affection like the one that can exist between friends or siblings. Nor does it refer to the strong physical desire that usually lasts for just a short period of time. True love is one that endures, stands the test of time, looks past hurts and difficulties, and is willing to overlook the other person’s shortcomings as much as it embraces the positive attributes.

Another element necessary in a love relationship is patience. Sometimes true love, even if mutual, is not enough. People in a relationship also need to cultivate patience, and let go of some of their pride. They must learn to be the one to concede in a fight once in a while. They must be the one to first say “I’m sorry” when necessary, even if they weren’t really the one at fault. Again, it is not good if only one partner does all these things, while the other remains self-righteously stubborn and proud. Patience also means having the wisdom to wait it out, to see if things will go more smoothly after a while. Patience means not giving up even when the pain or frustration becomes too much.

The final two elements in a love relationship, communication and commitment, go hand in hand. Actually, all four elements do overlap. When the couple is committed to making their relationship last, they will try every means to make it so, and communication is a valuable tool they can use. Effective and respectful communication is absolutely important in resolving fights, staying connected and staying together as a couple. More information about this topic can be found in our love forum.