How to Find Lasting Love in a Relationship

Lasting love starts with one's own self since self-esteem is the base of being able to establish solid and mature relationships that can last a lifetime

Almost all of us are looking for someone that fits perfectly with us to start our own lasting love story. However, as we know, the subject is more complicated than it may seem.

Even if we think that it’s just a matter of luck, destiny or the people we meet, the reality is that it all starts with ourselves.

Some keys to finding long-lasting love

Take care of your self-esteem

Some psychologists believe that when we feel we need a long-lasting relationship the most is when we’re probably dealing with a problem of low self-esteem.

If we are desperately looking for someone serious that will love us, the problem may come from within.

In these cases, the best thing to do is to clear the panorama. Ask ourselves what it is that we really need before making any pressured decisions. If you’re faced with a low self esteem problem, then you are not ready for a stable relationship.

On the contrary, those who have a high self-esteem aren’t constantly thinking about finding someone. They don’t need someone there for them all of the time.

Don’t idealize love

In addition, the way that we look at love can be another inconvenience when it comes to finding it. There are many preconceived ideas, prejudices and misguided cultural teachings about what a relationship should be like.
“Find your Prince Charming,” “live happily ever after” and the classic “you are the only one for me” are just some of the expressions that display this problem. However, the worst thing is that we base our emotions around these ideas.

Unfortunately, in many cases, things don’t work like that. Every person has a different and unique perspective.

Also, the dynamics of interpersonal relationships are much more complicated than those we read about in fairy tales.

Your partner is not an object

The combination of low self-esteem and infatuation almost always turns into the unhealthy custom of jealousy. There are those who tend to think that a serious relationship means doing everything their partner wants. However, that isn’t true:

• In reality, building a relationship doesn’t mean you are anyone’s possession. No human being is anyone’s property.
• Even in a relationship, every person is a free, autonomous being with the right to make his or her own decisions.

Uncontrollable jealousy has destroyed more relationships than you can imagine. A lasting relationship means creating a consensus and negotiations so that each person feels free, respected and loved.

Dealing with crisis

Long-lasting love has many stages. That means that not everything will be perfect.

Sexual attraction, infatuation and becoming a couple are only a summary of everything that takes place when two human beings are together.

If you ask those who have had long relationships, they will confirm this. Crises are an important part of every relationship, because they forge them.

However, in order to do that, the solutions cannot be based around what only one person wants. Before focusing on what we want from our “other half,” we should ask ourselves, “what can I do to make everything better?”

Lasting love is a love that makes you better

It’s easy to get into a relationship and fall in love at the start of it. After all, we’re influenced by intense hormones and high hopes. However, the hard thing is to keep this going as the years pass.

Lasting relationships are those where the love is nurtured as the years continue. We don’t stop the caresses, the understanding and all of the other demonstrations of affection.

Doing it should be pleasurable, but also a discipline.

Another way to nurture the love is to learn to put yourself in your partner’s place. Avoid unnecessary arguments. Instead, substitute your arguments for active negotiation.

No one said that it would be easy

In conclusion, being able to get along well enough with someone to want to marry them or have a lasting relationship isn’t easy. What you have to look for are a number of vital aspects: psychological, emotional, spiritual, moral, sexual and social.

However, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. There are many possibilities when you put forth a lot of effort. Fortunately, this will be worth it when you’re involved with the right person.

Then, the work will be in understanding each other’s differences and continuing to build the relationship.