If you don’t make that a clear resolution, you’re leaving room for others to intervene.
Now there may be some judgement around this, that you’re being selfish and not spending enough time with friends or family.
Karolina and I had this problem, but we stayed vigilant and it’s paid off immensely!
Because now we have an extremely strong bond of trust and know that we can rely on one another. So we had to become comfortable with saying “No” to others, and prioritize each other and our relationship.
Put your relationship first and it’ll create significantly more trust and stability.
2. Improve Communication Skills
This might sound cliche but it’s not as dull and boring as it’s often made out to be.
Karolina and I found that the more we improved our communication, the more we understood each other and the less we fought.
And there’s no better feeling than a year of feeling like you’re consistently making improvements towards understanding each other more!
This means figuring out how to better express where you’re at so that your partner can receive you, as well as truly listening to them.
We’ve created 3 communication hacks that can get you started, as well as a post on how to make him listen. If you want additional resources, we’ve compiled what we consider to be the best relationship books, some of which we’ve highlighted as a great help for our communication skills.
3. Try To Work Better As A Team
It’s sad, but we very frequently see couples quickly turn against each other.
Especially when they’re out on a social event or with family.
A friend makes a remark about one of them and the other partner immediately jumps on the bandwagon and joins in.
“Yeah, it’s true, you’re always waiting and never make decisions yourself! Why?”
I can promise you, this does not end with the person pondering their indecisiveness and making a sudden decision to turn their life around.
If anything, they will shut down, become defensive and possibly counter attack.
So it’s important that you work and think as A TEAM.
Have each others backs, stand in for one another and don’t tolerate others trying to interject.
This is YOUR relationship and the two of you can figure things out TOGETHER.
When you start developing this attitude, it’ll build more trust and safety between the two of you.
And problems like indecision or others can be addressed constructively in the private safety of your home.
4. Have Fewer Arguments This Year
Imagine a year where you spend most of your time with your partner enjoying each other’s company.
Laughing, talking and frolicking in the fields, you name it – you’re doing it and having a blast!
We believe it’s crucial that a relationship should be overall MORE FUN than work.
A big part of what contributes towards this is having fewer arguments.
And In order to achieve this, it’s good to always talk about things that are bothering either of you.
Bottling things up is a big no no, because this is what can lead to very heated or frequent arguments.
You want to make sure you’re keeping an open communication channel and tackling hot topics one at a time.
We covered how to stop fighting at length which might be a helpful resource to you.
Setting this new year’s resolution will remove tension, build trust and create mountains of room for enjoying your lives together.
5. Make Time For Your Relationship
We’re all busy, there are hundreds of things that need doing and the sporadic jumble of thoughts in our minds doesn’t help matters either.
But in the midst of all of this, it’s important to still make time for your relationship.
Why?
Because your relationship can be a rock, a foundation and a fortress.
And when you have that in your life, it makes taking care of things and untangling your mind a whole lot easier!
In other words, don’t try to sort out everything on the outside first and then get to your relationship.
Make TIME for your relationship FIRST and then take care of the rest.
This is important because the tendency is that people DON’T get around to their relationship!
Instead they become overrun by all the things demanding their attention in their lives.
So the foundation gradually shows cracks and crumbles. Eventually leaving nothing to go back to and it needs to build from scratch again.
If you put your relationship first for the coming year, you’ll avoid losing your fortress and can dominate your life from the safety of your keep together!
That concludes my suggested new year’s resolutions. Don’t forget NOT to overwhelm yourself.
Also, let us know what your resolutions are in the comments below. We’d love to hear your ideas.
Good luck and all the best in the new year for you and your relationship!
We ALL do things that drive people away without even REALIZING IT.
Men have their own set of unique sensitivities and certain things send them running for the hills.
Here are the top #5 behaviors you want to avoid and alternatives that will get you what you want.
1. Controlling Behavior Drives Men Away
Just like any creature on this planet, men enjoy their sense of freedom.
I’m not referring to sexual escapades or endlessly flirting with strangers.
I mean the freedom to BE HIMSELF.
In my previous relationship, I had a controlling girlfriend.
She believed it to be okay to impose and manage me, my behavior, my activities, what I said and did not say, the way I wrote my texts when I should pick her up and drop her off, etc.
It was WAY too much.
And ultimately I just felt suffocated. I couldn’t take it anymore, so we ended it.
We’re all unique and have our own ways of ‘doing life’.
So be sure to give your partner a lot of breathing space and room for self-expression.
Let’s be brutally honest here. We are all selfish creatures who act in our own self-interest.
When we do nice things for others, most of the time we DO EXPECT something in return.
Selfishness in relationships is often demonized, but I personally don’t see it as a bad thing.
Doing nice things out of selfish reasons doesn’t diminish their value.
There is nothing wrong with doing loving things for your partner because you want to make them love you in return.
EVERYBODY DOES THAT. We all just pretend that we don’t. 😝
Here are some little things you can do, to make your partner love you more.
1. Appreciate Your Partner’s Efforts
When you notice your partner made an effort to do something that’s new, that they’re a bit unsure of, you might feel this urge to point out flaws and correct him/her right away…
It’s a bad habit that most of us, unfortunately, have.. Really, this ONLY causes DAMAGE to a relationship.
The best way to make your partner love you more is to try to resist this irritating urge and validate your partner instead.
You trying to correct your partner in a situation like this will only put them off and make them more likely to give up.
Validating your partner’s efforts, on the other hand, will encourage them to try harder and do more.
It will make them feel valued and loved and they will inevitably love you in return.
2. Show Them Your Support
Everybody in the whole wide world is desperate to have someone else BELIEVE IN THEM.
When your partner tells you about their goals or resolutions, they desperately want you to support them in their efforts.
Sometimes, your partner’s goals will seem unrealistic or silly.
When that is the case, don’t shoot them down right away.
Take your time to understand their true objective and where they’re coming from.
This will inevitably make it easier for you to be more supportive of your significant other and they’ll love you for it.
3. Compliment Their Appearance
Complimenting someone’s appearance is one of the easiest ways to make them feel good.
People tend to believe that only women care about looking good, but that is so not true.
Straight men want to feel desirable and sexy too!
Even when they pretend not to and totally don’t know how to get there…
Complimenting even little things about your partner’s looks will make them feel special and loved, and they’ll be very likely to pay it back.
4. Compliment Their Intelligence
This might be a shocking one to hear, people are just as insecure about their brains as they are about their looks.
Luckily, complimenting someone’s intelligence is just as easy as complimenting their looks.
Point out when your partner says something smart or when he/she knows something you don’t.
It will boost their confidence and it’s bound to make them appreciate you more.
5. Give Them Your Undivided Attention
Due to our busy schedules and hectic lifestyles, we tend to CONSTANTLY be kind of DISTRACTED.
Chatting with three people at the same time and watching youtube videos while your partner is telling you about their day. We’re all guilty of that sometimes…
A great way to inspire his/her love is to find a way to silence all that hectic noise, put away all your devices and dedicate 100% of your attention to your partner.
It will make your significant other feel important and cared for and he/she will love you for it.
6. Check-In With Your Partner. FOR REAL
When we ask the question “how are you?” most of the time it’s meant as mere politeness.
You might have been asking your partner “How was work?” and he/she has been answering “uhh, ok..” for the past months because they SENSED that you’re not interested in hearing the real answer to that question.
People in relationships often pretend that things are OK for their partner because they don’t want to cause alarm or trouble…
However, checking in with your partner for real and making room for their true emotional state is really crucial for keeping the relationship healthy.
Checking in with your partner and being truly receptive of where they’re at, will make them open up and love you more.
7. Give Them Some Physical Affection
This one is pretty straightforward… Physical touch is a very important love language.
Giving your significant other gentle kisses, snuggles or a massage can instantaneously bring them closer.
It’s a great and easy way to express your feelings for them. It’s foolproof and it’s bound to reignite your partner’s love for you.
8. Set Up And Organize A Date They Have Been Talking About
We all have things that we really want to try but don’t dare do it on our own.
It could a lot of different things like a bouldering class, scuba diving, or just a trip to opera.
For you to organize an activity that your partner has been wanting to do for ages, it’s like a dream come true!
I recently kept on going on about playing badminton. And when we went to do it, I was totally overjoyed. I had so much fun… 🤩😅
When it comes to this topic you have to think of your partner as a kid that’s really hang up on this one particular activity. Like when you were a kid and wanted to go to Disneyland or something.
Fulfilling that one need your partner has most likely brought up in conversation like a million times already, will make them fall over heels for you.
Make their dream come true and they’ll be inspired to do the same for you!
9. Express Your Love Through A Thoughtful Gift
This one is very similar to the dream come true date idea.
We all have things we want, but feel like we don’t deserve.
It might be something big or something totally small.
Like a particular type of cheese or an elaborate cocktail at a fancy bar.
Small things can make a BIG difference!
What is that your partner really wants but doesn’t dare get?
Get it for them and they’ll love you that much more!
10. Help Them Out With Something Difficult
Everybody struggles with certain things…
For example, it’s hard for me to make doctor appointments.
Having Gabriel help me decide which doctor to call and sit by side when I’m on the phone is SUPER HELPFUL.
What does your partner struggle with?
Offer to help them out with that and try to support them through it and they’ll love you for it!
Hope this article inspired you to take action in your relationship and find ways to make your partner love you more!
If you have any questions or comments about this topic and my attitude, please let me know in the comments section! I’d love to hear from you!
Nobody is perfect! But as long as you’re both open to hearing the other one out, things are great!
3. You Can Rely On Each Other
If you can to your partner in your moment of need your relationship is definitely a healthy one!
Admitting to both physical and emotional needs means displaying vulnerability.
If you can be vulnerable with your partner and he can be vulnerable with you, it means you trust each other a lot!
Trust is a clear sign of healthy and mature love.
4. You Are Growing Closer
Healthy relationships don’t stagnate, they keep on growing!
If you feel like you’re constantly getting to know each other better and building more and more trust, you are in a healthy relationship!
Even when the honeymoon phase fades and you’re not making out and having sex the whole time anymore, as long as you feel like your love for each other is growing, all is right in the world.
5. You Feel “At Home” With Your Partner
You know the feeling of being in the right time, place and with the right person. Feeling of safety, comfort, stability. You feel loved, taken care of and protected.
This feeling comes from having built trust and understanding of another.
If your partner makes you feel “at home” you’re definitely in a healthy relationship.
6. Your Relationship Isn’t Perfect
This one might feel counter-intuitive. We all aspire to reach perfection. Films often portray characters that seem “perfect for one another”.
However, the ugly truth about people is that nobody is perfect!
Neither is there such thing as a “perfect relationship”.
In fact, claiming to be in a perfect relationship can only mean one thing: you’re lying!
So if you can admit to having relationship problems, it means your relationship is for real.
Healthy relationships are never perfect!
7. You Sometimes Fight
Disagreements and fights are an inevitable part of being in a relationship. I would prefer it if Gabriel and I never fought. But that’s just being unrealistic..
Couples who never fight are repressing their feelings and harboring resentment towards each other.
This kind of situation can never last and nothing good can come from it.
That’s why arguing with your boyfriend is actually a sign of a healthy, functioning relationship.
Having healthy arguments is just an imperfect way for couples to figure things out.
8. You Have Relationship Doubts
Having relationship doubts is totally normal.
It’s especially common to have doubts at the beginning of a relationship because you don’t know your partner that well and you haven’t built trust with each other yet.
Doubts can creep up at any point in a relationship though. Especially when you and your partner are in the middle of a heated argument…
Being able to put your relationship into question means you can reassess things and improve things that need improvement.
9. You Have Separate Interests And Preferences
When in love, it’s easy to get lost in another person’s world and lose track of yourself for a bit.
However, a healthy relationship is when two individuals choose to share their lives with one another.
People often assume that being different from your partner means that you two aren’t perfectly compatible. That is complete BS!
Having your own separate interests and preferences means that both you and your partner retained your individuality.
10. You Can See The Future Together
Healthy relationships are nurturing. They help you grow both as a couple as well as individuals.
If both you and your partner talk and plan the future together, it means your relationship is developing and growing.
Making plans and looking forward to things and events is a natural way life progresses. Regardless of what stage your relationship is at, there is always the next step and the next goal you can look forward to.
Looking forward and planning a future together means you’re in a healthy relationship.
I hope these 10 Points helped you better understand what it means to be in a healthy relationship. If you have other signs of being in a healthy relationship that you’d like to share or you have any questions, let us know in the comments section!
It’s a question I used to ask myself a lot in the past.
Understanding the things a man wants from a woman is key to a lasting and loving relationship. Yet, it is a problem many women struggle with even after YEARS of being together with their partner!
That’s because expressing one’s true needs is vulnerable, and when it comes to vulnerabilities, guys are just not supposed to have any.
For this reason, your man will rarely communicate what he wants straight up.
In the domain of giving your partner the love that he needs, he really does expect you to read his mind.
Fear not though, in our 9-year long relationship we’ve managed to solve this puzzle.
These are the 5 things your man wants from you. Giving them to him will make him trust you and bring him closer!
1. He Wants To Know He’s ‘The Man’
You see, men often act all cocky and confident but deep down they are just as insecure as women are.
It was actually quite surprising to me, but when it comes to being all nonchalant it’s mostly just an act!
The truth is, men need LOTS of reassurance!
There is a lot of pressure on women to look beautiful, be caring and gracious. In the same way, there is a lot of pressure on men to be fearless and lead the way.
That’s why your man really wants you to let him know that he is doing “a good job as a man”.
He wants to know that he makes you feel safe, that you admire him and look up to him in some ways. That he is knowledgeable, smart and brave.
In other words, your man wants to feel like he is your hero.
When I walk down the street, I see COUNTLESS men that seem to put little to no attention on their clothes or appearance.
I used to believe it was because they simply didn’t care. In fact, many even TOLD ME that they didn’t!
However, I’ve learned a more sinister truth behind their seeming carelessness.
It’s that men are not supposed to feel desirable!
Much like women are often expected to remain “daddy’s little girl”, men are expected to stay “mommy’s boy” wearing oversized t-shirts and cargo shorts with at least 6 pockets!
Sexy.
So it’s HARD for them to think of themselves other than how mommy treats them.
But don’t be deceived by their ragged appearance and supposed non-care.
He DOES WANT to feel attractive and desirable. He wants you to want him.
3. He Wants You To Support Him In His Endeavours
We all crave the support of our loved ones when it comes to pursuing our hopes and dreams.
Even with increased equality, there is still a strong pressure on men to thrive in the world and leave their mark.
That’s why, when it comes to going after his passions, your man wants you to understand his motivations and encourage him to succeed.
He wants you to agree with him and to have his back. He also wants you to trust him to make the right decisions.
Being supportive of your man’s endeavors will help gain his trust, build him up and make him see you as his biggest ally.
4. He Wants To Feel Safe
Yes, that’s right, men want to feel safe too! Figuring this one out, was a total mind blow for me.
The truth is, men crave safety just as much as women do.
Your man wants to be able to open up to you, to know that you care about him and that you won’t leave him.
He wants to know that he is not alone.
Your guy wants you to have his back and help him out when he needs it. He actually wants to be able to count on you and be emotionally available.
This includes emotional support when he feels vulnerable, say when something in his life hasn’t worked out or his job is weighing on him.
In short, he wants YOU to reassure him and make him feel safe.
5. He Wants Intimacy
Yes, we all know men want sex.
But frankly, this is a stereotype that often does more harm than good in relationships.
He doesn’t just want to have sex with you, he wants to feel CONNECTED to you!
This is something he’s unlikely to say to you.
Men are expected to “be strong and show no weakness” and unfortunately, the man you’re with most likely has also been taught that “wanting to connect is weakness”.
So it might be, that the only way he knows to connect is through sex.
But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want MORE with you.
To him, sex isn’t just about physical pleasure, it’s about him wanting to feel closer to you.
This brings us to the biggest and arguably most important point in all of this.
All the things men want, that we’ve covered so far have something rather simple in common: What he ultimately wants is to feel close and connected to you.
The problem is, men have often been programmed to reject nurturing intimacy and can thereby subconsciously sabotage it in their own relationships.
If you find yourself in a situation where you’ve made endless efforts to make things work with your partner, but he just doesn’t respond the way you’d hope he would, then this might be the very reason.
In it we teach you the things men really need from a woman (That they might not even be able to convey themselves). And we’ll show you how to approach him with a mindset and tools that will finally allow you to get through to him and have him respond the way you want.
If you have any questions or thoughts about what men want, please leave them in the comments section below and we’ll get back to you.
Also if you’d like to read more about this topic, you can check out our post 5 Common Mistakes That Drive Men Away which you might find helpful as well.
We always believed that relationships should be FUN and uplifting! And we were obsessed with finding real-world practical solutions for our relationship problems. Today we help others do the same with our blog.
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