8 Things Couples Who Still Genuinely Like Each Other Do Pretty Much Always
Love is great, but liking each other is what really keeps couples going strong.
Krakenimages.com | Shutterstock To put it simply, a relationship where two people don't like each other won’t last, or, at least, it shouldn’t last. While some unhealthy relationships may persist, research strongly suggests that the absence of core healthy relationship components makes them significantly less likely to thrive and provide lasting fulfillment compared to relationships built on mutual respect, trust, and support. But what is a healthy relationship, exactly? How do we know if our relationship can survive the long haul? Or, whether it's so sick that we should consider putting it out to pasture?
How do you know if you’re with someone who's your future's cornerstone? There’s no medical test to rely on, no temperature that gauges whether a relationship is hot or has cooled down to hypothermic levels. Luckily, these eight things are all that you need to determine whether or not you still genuinely like each other as a couple.
Here are eight things couples who still genuinely like each other do pretty much always:
1. Have each other's backs
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He talks to that part of you that you forget exists when you doubt yourself. He reminds you who you are. He has a clear vision of your potential, and actively nurtures it into existence. Likewise, you don’t talk about him behind his back.
You don’t complain to your girlfriends about him in a way you wouldn’t say to his face. You don’t post his shortcomings on social media. You believe he is a whole and complete person who solves his own problems and stands on his own two feet, even if you aren’t there to support him.
2. Count on each other
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You trust him to stay true to his word. You’re not constantly anticipating him falling through on his promises. You don't anticipate or compensate with different actions for his lack of perceived responsibility.
And if he does break a promise, you don’t hold it over his head (and he’s not doing that to you). You don't hack into his social media accounts or check his text messages.
3. Accept each other's pasts
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Regardless of who he was, how many women he’s been with, or his upbringing, you don’t hold his past against him. You naturally allow him to reinvent himself and grow with you.
You promise to never think you know everything about him, and instead swear to approach each day with curiosity about who he's becoming. Your relationship is the total package (forgiveness and letting go of the past are not sold separately).
4. Say thank you
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You appreciate the little things he does for you. You’re not hoping things will get better. You’re not waiting for the new job, for the salary bump, for the move to a different city, or for the next trip to improve things.
You’re grateful for what you have right now with your partner. You’re happy at the moment and not playing the dangerous game of “if only” (“If only he starts making more money,” or “if only he didn’t work so much.")
You’re not rushing things either. You’re focused on the journey, not the destination. Marriage, a baby, an anniversary — you’re content with them happening naturally.
5. Talk things through
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There aren’t any ‘off-limit’ topics that force either of you into passive-aggressive behavior and irrational blow-ups. You’re straight with one another.
You wear your heart on your sleeve, and so does he. You don’t struggle for power or control in the relationship; it’s not a union composed of games.
You relinquish power because you know that gets in the way of love. You know there will be hard times — you’re not expecting a relationship merely made up of sessions singing “Kumbaya,” but you’re comfortably communicating with each other in a way that doesn’t cause the other person to feel attacked, criticized, or blamed.
6. Show up for each other
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Even when it plateaus at times, the act of coming together brings more life, intimacy, and closeness into your partnership. Your love life is a priority, with each of you continuing to nurture one another’s physical needs in the hopes of increasing the depth and richness of your relationship.
7. Respect each other
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You honor each other’s boundaries and encourage each other to pursue passions and dreams. If you love dancing, he encourages you to do it. If you love traveling and he doesn’t, he encourages you to do it with friends.
You don’t expect him to fulfill all of your emotional needs, which is why you have relationships with people (friends, family, etc.) and not just one person. You meet some of your emotional needs through others, and he isn’t threatened by this.
He’s the most important person in your life, but not the only important person. He never makes you feel invalidated, foolish, or needy.
8. Dream in the same direction
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You don’t feel like you’re constantly trying to change him or compromising yourself to stay with him. You don’t view him as a fixer-upper or a starter boyfriend.
Instead, he is who and what you want and your core values jive. Your answers coincide with important questions.
(Do you want children? Do you value travel? Do you have a thirst for new experiences? Do you agree on financial matters? Are the things that make you happy similar? Do you want to live in the same area?)
The health of your relationship is vital to your existence as a couple, but there’s no test you can take to determine its wellness. Only you and your partner know if your relationship has the life expectancy of a fruit fly or an ancient tortoise.
Only you hold the answer to the question: Is this a healthy relationship? Still, the eight signs written above can help you determine whether your love will last forever or merely linger for a few months that feel like forever.
Clayton Olson is an International Relationship Coach, Master NLP Practitioner, and Facilitator specializing in dating, empowering men and women, self-esteem, and life transitions. He has 20 years of experience working to optimize human behavior and relational dynamics.
