Before you make grand gestures to woo your partner, consider how your everyday behavior towards them is. Are you maintaining utmost honesty and openness?
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on July 23, 2019. It has since been updated.
The little things matter a lot in a relationship, which is why when one person lies about them repeatedly, it can all come crumbling down. When people inadvertently omit details like where they were a particular night or who were they hanging out with, it seems like lying. Absolute honesty is the only way forward in a longterm relationship. When experts were asked they mentioned multiple things you should stay honest about in a longterm relationship.
There's nothing to lose and only more trust to gain when you are honest. For instance, if you feel that you have a crush over a workmate, just talk to your spouse or partner about it. As long as you stop it from growing by acknowledging it, you're in the green. So, communicate and express with your partner to have an open and honest relationship.
Here are some things you should always be honest about with your partner in order to nurture a strong and healthy relationship:
"If you really love your partner, then tell this person how you feel," Cindi Sansone-Braff, author of Grant Me a Higher Love, tells Bustle. If you have been dating for a while, and you know that your feelings for them are strong let them know.
"Pretending that you don't really care about someone, or that you couldn't care less if he or she stayed or went, will only backfire on you in the long run," she said. "You'll never regret saying what you needed to say and revealing your true feelings, regardless of whether you get the response you wanted or not," she added.
There's a lot of stigma around mental health and most people just brush it under the carpet. However, like all things that blow up in your face when you refuse to acknowledge them, mental health issues too can spiral out of control. You could be worried that your partner would leave but if they're an understanding person, they would accept you as you are. Since mental health issues can interfere with a person's ability to enjoy life, being honest about this will make your partner more supportive in your hour of need, according to Bustle.
Don't agree with your partner just to please them. Putting across what you think of a situation honestly is important in a relationship. It helps your partner know you better. Keeping mum on important issues can be detrimental to the health of the relationship. You might grow to resent them in the long run if you can't express yourself freely with your partner.
Every relationship is about exchanging love and affection, but people have their preferences. If you hide what yours are fearing stigma and other repercussions, you will never be comfortable with them. "Don’t lie about anything that you will resent later," Tina B. Tessina, a.k.a. Dr. Romance, psychotherapist and author of Love Styles: How to Celebrate Your Differences, tells Bustle.
Your partner and your future plans may not be similar and that is where compromise raises its head. Instead of springing surprises on your partner about such plans, discuss them. Give them a chance to understand and visualize your dreams with you, instead of forcing it down their throat. You should discuss things about retirement plans and children's college tuition together. Meeting each other halfway is the key here.
What do you think a couple should never lie to each other about?
References:
https://www.bustle.com/articles/144284-the-one-thing-couples-should-never-lie-to-each-other-about
