Love

30 Unsexy Characteristics Of Happy Couples, According To Relationship Therapists

Photo: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A | Shutterstock
woman and man lighting sparklers on beach

A happy couple in a healthy relationship knows how to keep the romance and passion alive so their partnership lasts for a long time. 

When my husband Charlie and I were interviewing the happiest couples we could find, we could clearly see that they were among the group that kept their passionate romance alive over many decades.

RELATED: Top 10 Secrets Of The Highly Successful Couples We All Envy

Happiness and healthy relationships don't just happen. They require plenty of work, patience, and communication, among many others. Once you learn what traits in a relationship make it a good and healthy one, you learn how to be happier with your partner.

There were some common themes that ran through the stories we heard and there are plenty more out there that apply to your own happy relationship.

Here are 30 unsexy traits and characteristics of a happy couple in a healthy relationship, according to relationship therapists:

1. Vision

Hold a grand vision of what your partnership can be. Prepare to roll up your sleeves and do the work to manifest that vision.

2. A definition of romance

People have different ideas about romance. Be sure to have conversations defining what romance means to you so you can finally have what you are longing for.

3. Commitment

Commit each day and demonstrate that commitment.

4. Interests

Have an interesting career, hobbies, and separate areas of interest to keep each individual lively.

5. Adventure

Keep your sense of adventure alive, try new things, and take risks.

RELATED: 8 Signs Your Relationship Is Totally Solid And Built-To-Last

6. Listening

Listen deeply.

7. Curiosity

Be curious about the wonder of a child.

8. Questions 

Ask questions that show your sincere interest.

9. Healing

Heal all past wounds.

10. Learning

Keep learning and growing. When you remain open, your partner will continue being open with you. Being willing to unlearn and relearn things with and about your partner makes the relationship continue to thrive.

RELATED: 15 Rare Signs That Reveal You're In A True Partnership

11. Privacy

Honor their privacy by spending time apart.

12. Staying Power

Don't quit during the hard segments of the partnership.

13. Honesty

Be honest and trustworthy.

14. Agreements

Keep agreements. Big ones like fidelity, and even the small ones count.

15. Tolerance

Be tolerant and accepting of your partner’s shortcomings.

RELATED: If Your Broken Relationship Shows These 19 Signs, It's Worth Saving

16. Good news

Focus on your partner’s assets and strengths.

17. Respect

It's so important.

18. Conflict Management

Arguments can be enlivening and exciting. Those who are conflict-avoidant can repress emotions as a result of flattening the relationship.

Disappointments, frustrations, hurts, and grievances need to be brought forward. Only then can the couple negotiate to have their needs met. Respectful airing of differences breathes passion into the partnership, keeping the romantic quotient high.

19. No threats or ultimatums

Don't do it. 

20. Forgiveness

Be willing to forgive past transgressions.

RELATED: This 30-Second Test Will Tell You If It's Time To Break Up

21. Questioning myths

Examine your beliefs to find if there are limiting ones that may be detracting from having an excellent partnership.

22. Self-revelation

Reveal rather than conceal; express rather than repress.

23. No secrets

No secrets or lies.

24. Expressing needs

Tell your partner what you need.

25. Attractiveness

Stay attractive.

RELATED: 

26. Humor

Humor is associated with novelty and the unexpected and will bring lightness and fun.

27. Stretch

Stretch into your partner’s world if you possibly can.

28. Sex

Refine your sexual relationship for maximum pleasure. Making love in a place in the house other than your regular bed adds sparkle.

29. Intimacy 

Non-sexual intimacy is a deep knowledge of each other and the innermost parts of each other. 

30. Gratitude 

Express gratitude for the way your partner enriches your life.

RELATED: 6 Things To Do With The Person You Love When You're Bored

The above characteristics of couples that keep the romance alive over decades can be yours. 

Please don’t be confined to this list. If there are other items that you can give yourself credit for, by all means, do so. And if there are attitudes and behaviors that you identify as those areas where you need to improve, by all means, note those. 

It’s unlikely that you would get a perfect score of 100 percent by checking off every item on the list, but it’s a worthy goal to master each one over the years together. It requires some work on our part to be eligible for such a passionate, long-term romance.

But what have we got better to do with our time?

RELATED: 15 Things Happy Couples Do In Healthy Relationships That Last

Linda Bloom, LCSW, and Charlie Bloom, MSW, have been trained as psychotherapists and relationship counselors. They have worked with individuals, couples, groups, and organizations since 1975. 

This article was originally published at PsychCentral. Reprinted with permission from the author.