Happy couple: 7 Phases, 15 Basics and 20 Habits!

In this day and age, maintaining a romantic relationship is sometimes a challenge. Couples face a multitude of pitfalls: differences of opinion, communication problems, divergent goals, and many more.

However, it is entirely possible to overcome these pitfalls by cultivating the attitudes that make happy couples successful. To achieve this, both partners must agree to work together, with a common desire to grow their union.

“A successful relationship has roots that thrive on love, respect and deep equality.”

Joseph Sitruk

The key to a fulfilling love story:

The key to a fulfilling and lasting love story lies in transparent communication between the two beings. Everyone must demonstrate honesty, mutual understanding and respect. Finding the right harmony between individual times and shared moments is also essential. However, even the most beautiful unions are not free from disagreements.

This is why it is crucial to know how to resolve conflicts constructively. Because after all, love is a sublime garden that we must know how to maintain with care.

Nothing is too late. There are certain habits that can make a relationship even more successful.

👉 With a little patience and dedication, it is possible to naturally develop a healthy and fulfilling relationship.

Successful romantic relationships share certain similarities. If you have some of these 20 habits of happy couples, your romantic relationship has a good chance of succeeding and improving over time.

The phases of a couple:

At the start of a romantic relationship, everything is new and exciting. Both partners are attracted to each other and they spend a lot of time together. They will learn to know and appreciate each other. It’s a honeymoon period, where everything seems perfect.

But after a while, things usually start to change. Both partners start to see each other’s flaws and things no longer seem so perfect.

Over time, both partners will learn to manage their differences and adapt to each other.

👉 The 7 phases of a happy Couple:

“Trust is the most beautiful proof of love.”

Jean de la Bruyère

1. The phase of seduction/passion – It is the discovery of the other, the intense physical and emotional attraction. A love at first sight that marks the beginning of the story.
2. The idealization phase – Everyone only sees the qualities of the other, romantic euphoria reigns. A fleeting but essential state of grace.
3. The attachment phase – Feelings strengthen, complicity takes hold. The couple lays its solid foundations.
4. The commitment phase – Making plans together, settling down together, starting a family… The couple formalizes their union.
5. The reality phase – Daily life sets in, with its ups and downs. Everyone rediscovers the other, their faults included. A crucial step to negotiate well.
6. The negotiation/adjustment phase – Finding your bearings, your balance to overcome inevitable differences and conflicts. Learn to reinvent yourself.
7. The serenity phase – Maturity acquired, confidence strengthened. The couple lives a fulfilling love, in complementarity and mutual respect.

Although non-linear, these phases mark the journey of strong couples who have managed to overcome turbulence to forge a beautiful and lasting love story.

What are the 7 phases of relationship failure?

“It is not love that makes you blind, but rather the refusal to see things as they really are.”

Dr Philip McGraw

Here are some steps that can lead to the failure of a romantic relationship:

1. Lack of communication – When dialogue erodes, misunderstandings and things left unsaid accumulate, creating a gap between partners.
2. Loss of complicity – Failing to cultivate the bonds that united them, to maintain their common interests, the lovers gradually drift apart.
3. Indifference -One or the other, or both, stop giving importance to the relationship, neglecting it.
4. Unresolved conflicts – Disputes continue without being resolved in a healthy and constructive manner, fueling resentment.
5. The breakdown of trust – Lies, infidelity or other breach shake the foundations of the romantic structure.
6. Standstill – Neither partner makes the effort to get the relationship back on track when it goes off the rails.
7. The failure of conciliation – Despite their efforts, the couple cannot permanently resolve their differences and throw in the towel.

Failure often results from an accumulation of these factors which undermine the relationship until it implodes, due to lack of knowing or being able to remedy it in time.

The 8 fundamental bases of a solid couple:

1. Communication is a crucial habit for any romantic relationship. Partners must be able to express themselves openly and honestly to each other, without fear of judgment or rejection. Communicating allows for better mutual understanding, resolving conflicts and strengthening ties.
2. Mutual respect is another essential habit. Everyone must respect the other as an individual and full member of the couple. This involves listening, taking into account the needs and desires of others, patience and tolerance in the face of differences.
3. Love and affection remain the essential ingredients for a romantic relationship to flourish. Partners must show each other love and tenderness in a selfless manner, both verbally and physically.
4. Sexuality is an integral part of the couple. It is essential to maintain an active and fulfilling intimate life, not being afraid to explore new experiences together.
5. Patience and tolerance guide healthy relationships. Everyone must accept each other’s differences and try to understand them.
6. Mutual honesty is essential, banishing lies and secrecy for complete transparency between lovers.
7. Loyalty and fidelity are the guarantees of a solid bond. Excluding any outside relationships allows partners to feel safe, protected from deception.
8. The partners’ commitment to each other is crucial, implying their willingness to continue the relationship. Commitment brings a feeling of security, with the certainty that their story has a future.

7 additional bases to add, taking into account the new dynamics in romantic relationships these days 😉:

Love evolves with the times. These new habits make it possible to anchor the relationship in today’s realities, while preserving timeless fundamentals.

1. Independence – Although committed to each other, it is healthy to preserve some independence and individuality. Everyone should have their own friends, interests and time to themselves.
2. Flexibility – Relational models are evolving. You have to be open-minded and accept that everyone’s expectations and needs can change over time.
3. Trust and Personal Space – Trusting is essential. Grant others the freedom to be themselves without stifling them or controlling them excessively.
4. Equality – Particularly in modern relationships, partners must consider each other as equals, without relationships of domination. Fair sharing of responsibilities.
5. Personal growth – A healthy relationship encourages each person’s individual development through projects, passions and personal accomplishments.
6. Acceptance – Welcoming each other with our imperfections and weaknesses without excessive judgment. An attitude of reciprocal kindness.
7. Technology – Knowing how to integrate technology in a healthy way, without falling into excess or dependence, while preserving moments of disconnection as a couple.

10 habits of happy couples:

“The key to a successful relationship is not finding the perfect person, but learning to celebrate the imperfections of the one you love.”

Sam Keen

1) Invest yourself fully

Investing fully in the relationship is crucial, because it demonstrates to your partner the depth of your feelings. Romantic relationships require unwavering commitment from both sides, which requires determination and perseverance. Not giving it your all would amount to denying certain desires and pleasures, thus fueling doubt. Such an attitude would only undermine the quality of the link.

2) Love unconditionally

Loving should not be confined to restrictive criteria. It is important to lavish your love unconditionally. This means expressing your feelings freely, without expecting an immediate reaction.

3) Self-confidence

Believing in yourself is essential. At a time when our world is constantly evolving, including on a relational level, confident people invest fully without denying their emotions.

4) Honesty

The best relationships are built on trust. Be honest with your partner, and expect the same in return.

5) Patience, a virtue

Before you get carried away, think. Keeping calm isn’t easy when you love someone deeply. However, romantic bonds require great patience.

5.1. Communicate

Thriving relationships are built on communication. Talk to your partner about your needs, wants and fears.

6) Know how to recharge your batteries

It is essential to relax regularly. Neglecting these moments could harm the couple. These days, pressures punctuate our lives. Stopping focusing on worries and savoring the present moment is beneficial.

7) Consider the future

Every day brings its share of changes. Think ahead and identify what could strengthen your relationship is wise. Love cannot be reduced to immediacy.

8) Free love

Don’t expect favors from your loved one. More and more, ingratitude erodes our bonds. Having such expectations will only damage the relationship.

9) A love strategy

Each relationship is a unique adventure. Adopting a strategy for success is essential within the couple.

Take his time !

Enjoy foreplay and get to know each other before rushing in.

10) Self-control

Nowadays, it’s easy to fall in love. But this can be harmful to the relationship. Remember that your partner is the person you cherish and for whom you sometimes have to make sacrifices.

10 habits to avoid quarrels in a relationship

1. Open and honest communication – Dialogue without detours or ulterior motives about what concerns you. Express your needs, feelings and expectations clearly.
2. Active listening – Truly listening to others, without judgment or preparing a response. Seek to understand their point of view.
3. Managing emotions – Take the time to calm down before approaching a sensitive subject. Control your impulses to avoid slipping up.
4. Mutual respect – Ban hurtful words, excessive criticism and disrespectful behavior. Treat each other as equals.
5. Kindness – Adopt an understanding and empathetic attitude. Give the benefit of the doubt and look on the bright side.
6. Flexibility – Being willing to make reasonable compromises. Accept that the other may have a different point of view.
7. Humor and lightness – Knowing how to play down the drama and laugh at each other’s little quirks to ease tensions.
8. Letting go – Avoid constantly returning to the same areas of contention. Turn the page on minor grievances.
9. Quality moments – Cultivate pleasant activities, outings and moments of sharing to strengthen positive bonds.
10. Work on yourself – Work on your self-esteem, your confidence, your patience. Be attentive to the faults that fuel conflicts.

Signs of love in a man or woman in a couple?

The warning signs of the development of a romantic relationship are as follows: both partners begin to take a deeper interest in each other, increase their exchanges and share activities together. They also begin to harbor intense feelings for each other and long for more time in the company of their loved one.

A budding romantic relationship builds slowly at first, but the clues become more and more evident as the two people get to know each other and trust builds between them.

What can hinder the development of a romantic relationship?

Several factors can actually compromise the healthy development of a romantic relationship. Above all, a lack of compatibility at different levels (values, personalities, life plans, etc.) can hinder the building of a solid bond.

Then, marked differences of opinion, particularly on subjects important to partners, are likely to generate recurring tensions within the couple, considerably weakening the relationship.

Finally, although completely natural, conflicts and misunderstandings, if not managed constructively, risk escalating and in extreme cases leading to a painful breakup.

Honest questioning, reciprocal caring listening and constant efforts to find compromises generally make it possible to overcome these challenges and preserve a fulfilling romantic relationship over time.

How to increase love in a couple?

A few fundamental principles can greatly contribute to the development of a healthy and lasting romantic relationship.

First of all, it is essential to establish a climate of trust and openness within the couple. Each partner must be able to express themselves freely, without fear of being judged or rejected. This transparency allows for better knowledge and mutual understanding.

Next, it is beneficial to encourage positive interactions. Focusing on why we love each other and cultivating those feelings provides fertile ground for the relationship. Small everyday touches like compliments or tender gestures can have a considerable impact.

Finally, a common desire to overcome difficulties together is essential. Although conflicts are inevitable, they can find a favorable outcome if both partners demonstrate openness to communication and a real willingness to compromise.

By applying these main principles over time, the couple lays the foundations necessary for a beautiful love story to flourish.

I wish you great success in your relationship. 🙂