If you’ve just met someone and the chemistry is very strong, this person is probably on your mind throughout the day. Few people in this situation would be thinking about the different stages of a relationship that most couples go through. However, a good understanding of the stages of a relationship will allow you to know how your relationship will progress in the future.
The start of a relationship can be very intoxicating. You feel like you’re being swept along in the romance and life feels great. The desire for this person is very strong and your brain is overtaken by the chemistry of love.
Differences are unimportant at the start of a relationship. You might even find these differences endearing.
Your focus is on knowing the other more intimately and sharing more of your time together. This is referred to as the romantic stage. As with anything else that is new and fresh, the start of a relationship is adventurous and exciting.
The next stage typically decides whether the relationship grows or dies. When the newness wears off, you enter into the reality stage where you start to realize who this other person really is.
What it is that you don’t have in common take on greater significance. Both parties become more aware that the other isn’t meeting some of their needs.
The ‘reality’ of the relationship can be a let down because some of your expectations about the other person have not come to pass. Also, the excitement and energy of the first stage have also dropped off. This further contributes to the ‘let down’ that both parties feel.
It is important to step back during this stage and recall that everyone has their shortcomings. There is no such thing as a perfect partner. You know that you aren’t perfect, so why hold your partner’s flaws against him or her?
Understanding and honest communication is vital. Remember that trying to change your partner into your perfect mate will fail. This very often creates a lot of conflict that results in a break up.
If both of you can get through this stage, then a stable and long term relationship will be yours.
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