Everyone wants a passionate relationship, right? But knowing how to get it, and more importantly keep it, is often a mystery.
Passion can be defined differently depending on one’s idea of the concept, but it doesn’t just mean a highly sexual relationship. It’s common to think of passion as fireworks in the beginning stages of a relationship that naturally fizzle out as time goes on. However, passion does not have to be something exclusive to new couples.
When partners strive to nurture the love and intimacy they experience throughout the duration of their relationship, it can go on much longer than just the first few months. It’s something that must be worked towards and does not always simply happen. Tony Robbins stated, “Love is something that you consciously create every moment, every day.” And when you put conscious intention into your relationship it becomes more of what you want it to be.
The following are a few signs that your relationship is one of true passion.
You are constantly learning about your partner.
I teach couples I coach that they should work at becoming the world’s leading expert on their partners and make an effort to know their likes, dislikes, inspirations, challenges, and more. The notion that communication begins to die down after years of being in a relationship does not always have to come to fruition. Being curious about your partner can lead to asking interesting questions, which in turn creates the opportunity for deep conversations. These conversations are something to enjoy well-after your first months or years together, and the constant feeling of wanting to know more about your partner is a good sign you’ll nurture your passion for years to come.
You love each other’s flaws.
Casual or non-meaningful relationships can often show their true colors once flaws come into the light, with partners quickly breaking up upon facing these challenges; a sign of little to no real passion. Recognizing your partner’s flaws and loving them regardless is, indeed, passion.
This does not mean that you have to obsess over your significant other. Or endure unhealthy behaviors. Feelings of frustration or anger in a relationship are entirely normal, so long as these feelings are not a result of your partner’s core character. We all have imperfections and less developed sides to our personality and being able to love yourself and your partner unconditionally fulfills the human need for significance, ensures respect, and increases both compassion and passion.
You plan your future together.
This is a fairly obvious sign of a passionate relationship, but a shared vision of where your lives are headed is an extremely beneficial habit for partners in love. Planning your wedding cannot be the only sign of your common vision. Couples need to have shared long term goals. Perhaps you aren’t ready to discuss marriage. Even if you discuss smaller milestones like moving in together, buying a car, or adopting a pet, the idea is that you plan to spend a significant portion of your life with this person. Knowing where you are headed together can fuel passion.
You both make sacrifices.
Your willingness to make compromises for the sake of your partner is a clear sign of love and passion. A strong relationship is one that consists of both partners constantly wanting to give to one another, both in tangible and intangible ways. These sacrifices can (and should) be big and small. For example, making big life decisions together and meeting in the middle, or simply just deciding where to go to dinner one night.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this blog series focusing on even more signs of a passionate relationship, and visit TjBartel.com for more!