If you have ever been in a relationship, you will know that all relationships have their ups and downs.
Of course, the relationship with your significant other is going to be a little more difficult than that with your friends or colleagues.
However, I think just about every single person out there has been in a situation where they were feeling one way on the outside, but experiencing something else on the inside.
However, are relationships supposed to be this way?
Are relationships supposed to be stressful?
Relationships are not supposed to be stressful, but there are many things in a relationship that can cause stress, and sometimes, there is no way to prevent it.
One of the most common sources of stress in a relationship is “cycles”.
The most common cycle in a relationship is where one person tries to make things better, and the other gets increasingly frustrated and disappointed by the results.
While there are bound to be arguments and misunderstandings in any relationship, if you approach your relationship with nothing but positivity then it will flourish.
And the best thing about positivity is that you can control it!
If you try to go into any situation with a positive attitude, then you will always come out on top.
What To Do If Your Relationship Gets Stressful
Take the time to figure out why your relationship makes you stressed.
Make a list of all the stressful aspects of your relationship, and add how they make you feel.
Put Expectations Aside
One of the main reasons why your relationship is getting stressful is because you are putting too much pressure on it.
Expectations are great motivators, but they’re also great ways to hurt people.
Having high expectations of your partner or of your relationship can be very damaging.
When you feel that you need something for your partner to change, you put him on the spot.
It makes him feel bad about himself, and it makes him feel insecure about himself.
Instead, try setting expectations for yourself.
If you are the one who is stressed out about your relationship, it might be time to evaluate why you are in the relationship in the first place.
The only way to know if your partner is good enough for you is if you have a clear idea of what exactly makes him “good enough.”
Avoid Negative Communication Patterns
A relationship is not governed by the laws of physics.
Something that works in the real world will not work in relationships. If you are really unhappy with your partner, do not be afraid to tell him or her how you feel.
Do not get mad at them; instead, try to understand what they are doing wrong and why they are doing it.
Communication is a major aspect of any relationship.
You should talk about things that are bothering you, and you should always be proactive in resolving problems instead of passive-aggressive.
The relationship will work better if you do not get annoyed; otherwise, your partner might get annoyed with you and take it out on others.
But do not overdo it, either!
It is okay to talk about the little things that bother you in a relationship.
It is okay to vent when necessary.
However, try not to let things go too far overboard.
Connect with Your Partner on a Spiritual Level
One of the most overlooked aspects of relationships is that they are spiritual endeavors.
This means that it is okay to have spiritual feelings for your partner.
It means that it is okay to want to share your spirituality with your partner.
Loving someone divinely is not an overly passionate or overly sexual subject.
You can love someone divinely, and still have a purely physical relationship with them.
But it would also be nice to explore the aspects of the relationship where you can both share this spirituality together.
Pursuing Mutual Interests
There is a reason why you always hear about couples who are very busy.
If a couple has mutual interests that they both love, they will be able to survive the stresses of a relationship.
If you always want to spend time together because you love the day-to-day things that you do with each other, it is going to be difficult for your relationship to get rough and difficult for it to get stressful.
Instead, make your relationship an outlet of fulfillment and passion; make it about something fun and exciting instead of something stressful and annoying.
If you currently do not share many interests with your partner, try finding a few things that you both love doing.
Then do those things as often as you can.
Make time for each other because you love each other and want to spend time together anyway!
Here are a few examples:
1. Learn cooking together; go to cooking classes together; buy the same cooking magazines; find recipes that both of you like to cook.
2. Go out to eat at restaurants together; go out for ice cream (for the kids!)
3. Make crafts together (I love making things!)
4. Paint your nails at home together
5. Play games on Nintendo Wii
6. Learn a new language (my girlfriend loves learning languages)
7. Relaxation activities like meditation or yoga
8. Read together
9. Take long walks in nature (for both of you)
Final Thoughts
Relationships are not supposed to be stressful.
Stress is unavoidable, but you should not be stressing about your relationship all the time.
Stressing about your relationship makes it impossible to relax with your partner.
It makes it impossible for you to enjoy the time shared together or time spent apart.
It is perhaps one of the most challenging things in life to try and maintain a positive relationship in the midst of life’s pressures and stresses.
If you follow the tips, tricks, and advice in this article, it is likely that you will be able to make a positive relationship a positive one.