Relationships are easy when things are going well and everyone is happy. It's the tough times that challenge us to keep harmony - when things are going wrong and the stress level is high that really test the strength of our relationships.
I think this era, with the pandemic and all that we have endured, has been an unprecedented time and challenge for our relationships. It is often never one crisis or stressful event that causes the breakup of a strong partnership. It's helpful when couples are flexible, empathetic and team oriented in their approach to problems.
This article points to 8 traits that significantly help couples manage the storms and stay together through difficult, and what may seem like impossible, times or circumstances. I find it interesting that the most important ingredient from the studies have shown, that to sustain a long term relationship, it is important to be emotionally accessible or available to one another. I have always said that communication, honesty and respect are a great foundation to building any relationship.
Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Virginia Pelley, Fatherly
Royalty-free photo courtesy of Un Splash