5 essentials in a relationship

What defines a relationship ? Is it trust, honesty, communication, love and respect? Or is it many other things as well? People often argue that the importance of these five key ingredients in a relationship varies and this article will take into account both sides of the argument. It’s important for all people to know what their significant other is doing in order to make them happy because if they don’t they’ll end up being on a never-ending roller coaster of emotions.

Does the way people often argue about what’s important in a relationship mean that nobody knows what they are talking about? Well, this article will take into account both sides of the argument and hopefully leave people thinking that at least one side is wrong.

Let’s start by taking a look at some statistics: There are approximately 3.5 billion people on this planet currently and there are currently 380 million marriages (source: United Nations, 2013). So, on an average, about every 3 and a half seconds someone gets married. Hopefully, everyone that’s reading this article will have been lucky enough to have married their significant other and I would imagine this will be the majority of people. However, if you don’t have a significant other (single), then you may want to consider what exactly the 5 most important ingredients in a relationship are so you can marry someone who is going to make your life fantastic (or vice versa).

1. Trust

Trust is an essential ingredient in a relationship and it’s important for partners to have trust in each other or the relationship can’t work. If one partner doesn’t trust their significant other then they’ll be on edge all of the time and they’ll feel stressed, annoyed, nervous, anxious etc. But if the other partner doesn’t trust their significant other then they won’t be willing to open up to them because there’s no basis for trusting that person. It’s a natural thing to feel this way because nobody wants to be deceived so it’s natural to question everything that’s said.

However, it’s important for people who don’t trust their significant other to realise that if they don’t have a foundation of trust then there’s no way the relationship can work and they need to work on getting that trust before trying the relationship again.

2. Honesty

Honesty is the most important ingredient in a relationship in my opinion. I remember being in a relationship where I wasn’t honest with my partner for the entire time and she was doing the same to me, so it was a battle of who could lie better and hide more from each other. But sometimes it’s hard to be honest with your partner because you’re scared of what their reaction will be. Honesty is the foundation of trust and it’s essential that this is there in order for trust to be built.

Another thing about honesty which is important in a relationship is keeping your word. If you say you’re going to do something, then do it. Don’t leave your significant other waiting around for nothing or they’ll be disappointed. That’s why it’s important for partners to be honest with each other so they can know what to expect from each other at all times.

3. Communication

Communication is the most important ingredient in a relationship and as people evolve and learn about relationships, it is vital that they communicate with their significant other. If people don’t communicate with each other then they won’t be able to resolve anything properly because it can be difficult to understand what the problem is if they haven’t discussed it first.

But communication is more than just talking, you can also send text messages, emails and even instant messages online to communicate with your significant other without having to talk about things which are bothering you.

4. Love

Love is an amazing feeling and it can make a relationship last for a lifetime. If people have two people in their life that they love, then they won’t want to live without them. Love is the most important ingredient in a relationship and if you don’t have this feeling you’ll want to end the relationship. People may worry that they’ll love their partner too much and feel like they’re being pushed around, but remember not to obsess over love because this can lead to jealousy which could ruin the relationship.

5. Respect

Respect is important in any relationship because it’s a great foundation for trust. If a person doesn’t respect their significant other then they won’t be willing to open up to them and trust them. Respect can come in many different forms such as: respect their privacy, their opinions, the person they are as a person, the things they do for you and more.

Some people may argue that respect is the most important ingredient in a relationship because it forms a basis of trust and without trust there is no way you can have a successful relationship.

Are relationships overrated?

As people go through life together, they become friends, lovers, companions and the list goes on. However, is the amount of time spent in a relationship worth it? This is a question that needs to be asked because at some point in life (depending on the length of the relationship) you have to decide if it’s worth it anymore and whether that person is genuinely worth your time.

For example, think about your relationship with your best friend. You spend so much time together and from the outside it’s easy to see why you would think that you could continue being friends after the relationship ends. However, this is not always the case. If someone is treating you badly or are letting themselves go then it’s likely that they’ll lose your friendship when the relationship ends.