Relationship Success Tips 1. Avoid placing all your emotional needs on your partner...

Develop your own individual identity and through those experiences, your relationship will be enriched as you keep breathing new life into it. 2. Even if you've been together a long time, never expect your partner to know what your needs are... Mind-reading and making assumptions only lead to misunderstandings and potential conflicts. Learn to be assertive and ask directly for what you want. 3. Periodically have a "check-in" with your partner to re-examine how the relationship is going and how satisfied you and your partner are. This keeps the channels of communication open and can help renew the relationship, reinforcing the positives and uncovering areas in need of attention before things get too misguided. 4. Characteristic of relationship development, most couples have a diminishment of that honeymoon phase "high" that's experienced in the beginning of a relationship when they first started dating. This is normal and not a reason to be concerned that there is something necessarily wrong. When this occurs, strive to bring more creativity and vitality into your relationship and sex life to spice things up. Surprise your partner. Be spontaneous and playful. Make him see how special and important he is to you. 5. Examine your satisfaction with the roles you play in your relationship. A real advantage of gay relationships is the ability to be flexible with life roles and not to have to ascribe to traditional sex role stereotypes commonly held in heterosexual relationships. Negotiate such roles and tasks openly and freely with your partner, acknowledging areas of strength and talent in this decisionmaking. 6. Avoid letting disagreements turn into ugly verbal battles where things could be said that are later regretted. Learn basic anger management principles and know when to call a "Time-Out" to defuse unproductive anger. Also learn how to re-engage following the cool-down period so issues can be resolved peacefully... Learn to apologize and say sorry after the angry words...hugging helps in such situations...kiss and make up... 7. Don't let the business of life take away from your relationship. Find a balance between works, alone time, friends, family, and time spent as a couple. Make "Date Night" a regular part of your lifestyle where you avoid discussing your problems or issues and just enjoy spending that quality time together. Never take each other for granted and remember that you're a team!!!

WHY GAY RELATIONSHIPS WORK AND FAIL.....

Top 10 Reasons Relationships Work

10. Our relationship is firstnot third or fourth 9. Were able to compromise 8. He acknowledges and validates me 7. Humorwe know how to have fun 6. Were friends 5. We accept each others strengths and weaknesses 4. Everybodys responsible and no one is to blame 3. We have a healthy dependence/mutuality in our relationship 2. We can disagree without attacking 1. Were able to really listen and communicate with each other

Top 10 Reasons Relationships Fail

10. Weve just grown apart 9. Were just not in love anymore 8. Hell never change 7. I dont have any emotions/feelings left 6. All we do is fight 5. Theres just too much resentment built up 4. We cant work out problems 3. Theres no intimacy or fire 2. I just cant trust him 1. We just dont communicate Tips for Lasting Love Ability to solve problems Active listening

 Ability to express and validate feelings and needs Personal responsibility Love and romance Friendship Forgiveness Bottom of Form

By Fitsum Kamal