Love & Sex

All the things happy couples do differently

By Sophie Rietmulder | #!31Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:00:50 +0200+02:005031#31Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:00:50 +0200+02:00-2Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202331 07pm31pm-31Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:00:50 +0200+02:002Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam2023312023Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:00:50 +0200002008pmMonday=9#!31Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:00:50 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam8#08-07-2023#!31Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:00:50 +0200+02:005031#\/31Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:00:50 +0200+02:00-2Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202331#!31Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:00:50 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam8#

Hands up if you also felt a little tear coming when Charlotte York talked about her marriage in the first Sex and the City movie and said: ‘I’m happy every day. Not all day every day, but every day.’ No? Just me? Oh well, I am a mega emotional Cancer, I can't help it. It did make me think when I turned on the movie for the 56th time last week: what makes a couple happy? And what do happy couples do differently than less happy couples? I present: the happy couple checklist. If you can mostly say ‘yes’ to this, then you are really doing very well.

1. They know all about each other’s ‘old wounds’
Whether it’s about traumas from the past or unpleasant experiences from previous relationships; happy couples are open about these events and understand the impact they have on their relationship.

2. They are not afraid of difficult conversations
As much as you would like it to be, life is not a 2000s romcom. Sometimes difficult conversations need to be had that cannot be avoided with a one-sided speech about how love conquers all, and happy couples don’t shy away from that.

3. They validate each other’s experiences
Even if one partner has experienced a situation completely differently than the other, there is always room and understanding for each other’s perspective.

4. They both take responsibility for the happiness in their relationship
Even if one person is 90 percent responsible for a problem, the other can still take responsibility for their share of the issue. This does not create conflict; it actually promotes self-awareness and growth.

5. They understand that having a relationship doesn’t magically solve everything
Happy couples do not see their relationship as the solution to all their problems, but rather as an opportunity to bring out the best in each other while navigating life together.

6. They are each other’s priority
Their relationship is not something that just exists in the background, but something that is invested in with time and energy.

7. They are curious about the next version of their partner
People change, that is something you can always count on. Happy couples welcome this evolution. They want to get to know the next version of their partner and look forward to seeing how their partner will develop in their next life phase.

8. They maintain humor and fun in their relationship
Happy couples intentionally add playfulness, humor, and fun to the relationship to keep things balanced while maintaining intimacy.

9. They accept that their relationship changes in different life stages.
In these couples, there is no such thing as ‘the cookie is crumbled’ as the initial feeling of infatuation fades. Happy couples are aware of the bending, shifting, and transforming of their relationship in different life stages and enjoy every moment together.

Source: Poosh