Anyone who’s been in a serious, long-term relationship knows that the work of ~real love~ truly begins after the so-called honeymoon phase. Great, lasting relationships goes beyond liking the same band in high school or being truly, madly, deeply in love with each other and never setting eyes on anyone else.
Here are 8 common reasons why couples don’t make it happily ever after.
INFIDELITY
There is nothing more heart-breaking than having a partner cheat on you. With cheating comes lying and dishonesty, the mutual trust broken forever, and at times, living with a distorted view of how a healthy relationship should be (e.g. making excuses for yourself or your partner to justify the cheating).
A MISMATCH IN PRIORITIES
Because the reality is, outside the relationship, there is work, your own family, your self-growth, and your own circle of friends. How you treat each other is greatly affected by how you regard each aspect of your life in relation to your love life. This doesn’t mean putting the other first at all times—it comes with an understanding of each other’s priorities.
ABUSE—IN ANY FORM!
Abuse can be physical, emotional, verbal, et cetera, and in whatever form, should not be tolerated in any way. It’s the type of behavior a partner may be led to make excuses for (out of fear, not knowing what to do, et cetera), but it’s actually a problem that goes beyond the relationship. What should be done? The abusive partner must fix his/her behavior or seek professional help.
UNRESOLVED KNOTS IN THE RELATIONSHIP AND MISCOMMUNICATION
Problems are part of relationships, but when left unresolved, what seemed as ~normal~ couple problems can ruin the relationship beyond repair. They say that more than love and attraction, it’s how couples communicate and sort out conflict together that makes a lasting relationship.
MONEY MATTERS
Money, per se, may not be the problem but rather the possible power struggle, the bruised ego, and the damage in one’s pride that comes with the partner who earns significantly less. For married couples, there’s also the pressure with having to provide for the family, and at times when there is little to spend, all the more it can become an issue.
TRUST ISSUES
The lack of trust in a relationship is in fact one of the most common reasons why couples break up. More than anything, a relationship must be built on a solid foundation of trust, along with respect.
~UNPLEASANT~ EXPERIENCES IN BED
Many consider being compatible in bed an important factor, so it’s no surprise when people choose to quit a relationship after an unlikely experience in bed. After all, if you’ll end up marrying your partner, you’ll be doing it with the same person for the rest of your life.
MISALIGNED DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS
You can fall out of love or grow apart. Sometimes, life happens to each of you at a different pace, and it can be a reason for you and your partner to find yourself disconnected to each other.
What other reasons can you think of? Tell us below!