Disagreements are inevitable in a relationship. But they need not be toxic and painful, says Sylvia: “The earlier you find your own groove to manage disagreements, the better.” 

Start by putting judgement aside, says Leonardo. “Remember, your emotions cannot find
solutions; you will be keen to discuss possible solutions when you feel understood and respected. It is learning the fundamental skill of negotiating expectations for each-other’s benefit with interest and respecting the differences to find a final solution.”

And do not sweat the small stuff, says Sylvia. “With our busy lives, it is common to place too much value on what is the ‘best’, ‘most efficient’ way of getting things done. With our focus on efficiency, high performance and perfection, we run the risk of becoming trapped in a mode of over-analysing and criticising anything that isn’t perfectly done.”

It is important that couples make a deliberate attempt to switch out of this mode and “prioritise the person over the task,” she adds. 

Sylvia says to ask yourself instead: “Is this comment that I want to make really necessary? Is this comment worth spoiling quality time with my partner?” 

She suggests viewing each disagreement from the perspective of an opportunity for discovery, where a couple can learn more about each other and about themselves so they have a chance to grow together.

READ MORE: Never Ever Fight About These Things In Your Marriage

Beware of complacency setting in. Thoughts such as “Of course he knows I love him, I don’t need to say it again” are an all too familiar routine that couples fall into, say experts. When a couple has been with each other for a few years, it’s very easy for them to fall into a pattern. The romantic interludes of courtship and the honeymoon phase of a marriage take a back seat.

“We become very self-centered and ‘intellectually lazy’, emotionally detached and we start giving things for granted,” Leonard says. Whenever you sense that happening, “shake the boat and go back to fundamentals” he suggests, and do the things that made you decide you wanted to spend the rest of your lives together.

It is also important for couples to check from time to time if they are on the same page on rules and values when it concerns external relationships – with each other’s families, and friends of the opposite sex, for instance – and ensure they are still aligned as far as important matters are concerned, says Leonardo. 

You don’t need to plot in “date night” on your calendar for that to happen. It’s the intimacy and love that matters: A kiss, hug and a surprise gift (however small) can all make a big difference, Leonardo says.

And intimacy means enjoying time together and sharing the challenges and successes. This cannot be quantified by time, but “the quality of the time spent and message of love that you are able to receive,” says Sylvia.

READ MORE: Long-Term Couples, Here’s How You Can Keep Sex Alive

“Create a space where you can both share the impact of the day on you. The details of the stories are never the point, but rather how fulfilling or draining, comforting or unnerving it has been for you. It helps to have a loved one acknowledge your experience and encourage you to self-soothe, celebrate or just be present and connected to the experience of your day,” she says.

And keep the mobile phone out of this sacred space!

As a couple begins to evolve in their relationship, so also does their manner of communication: They are at a stage when specifics can be discussed openly. It is most important to attend to concerns when they are small; at a stage when they are still manageable for the couple to work through themselves, without the need for counselling. 

“A big part of what it means to have good communication between a couple is to be able to inform the other person when they feel that their needs are not being met,” says Sylvia, adding that it is important to also recognise that our partner is not responsible for meeting all of our needs. “Instead, as adults, we can actually meet our own needs, and our partners can support in that process,” she says.

READ MORE: These Are The Things That Healthy Relationships Have In Common

A good place to start is with some self-love. “As an adult, we no longer need to depend on someone else entirely to meet our needs,” says Sylvia. “If we start to feel that our own needs are not being met, it’s time to start thinking about how we can love, respect and comfort ourselves,” she says.

Once you lose sight of your own needs, there’s nothing anyone else can do to make you feel loved.

“We often get caught up in the daily grind and lose track of ourselves, forgetting to pay attention to how we are growing and what we are learning,” Sylvia comments. “We might find that one day we are caught unaware and realise that our life does not reflect who we are on the inside. At this point, it is often easiest to blame those closest to us, that we have lost track because of them. However, if we didn’t understand what was happening to ourselves along the way, how can we expect our partners to?” 

READ MORE:
How Long-Term Couples Keep Their Marriage Alive
The Top Reasons Why Women Leave Their Marriages
A Relationship Expert Reveals The Signs Of An Emotionally Abusive Relationship

Text: Sandhya Mahadevan
Photos: Pexels and Unsplash