Unfortunately, there are no magic spells to fix a failing relationship; there's only real and practical solutions to help you get back on track. Love, trust, and respect are the things that can make or break a relationship. If you remove just one of these elements from the equation, the entire relationship could be in jeopardy. If your relationship is on the rocks right now, these 'rescue relationship' techniques may be just what you need to save it.
One of the main reasons many relationships fall on hard times is due to the lack of romance. That in love feeling that you felt when you first met that special someone wore off over time. In the beginning everything felt brand new and each day was more exciting than the last. The two of you were learning everything about one another, likes and dislikes, the dos and don'ts. Everything was so fresh, but then it all became so routine and dull. The relationship lost its luster. What we fail to realize is that all those feelings we have in the initial stages of the relationship are 99.9% infatuation and not real love. Here are a few things to help move that infatuation to love and take your relationship to the next level.
First, focus on the things that make a relationship work. Honesty, compassion, loyalty, understanding, acceptance, forgiveness and trust are all key ingredients that can accomplish this. Remember that no one is perfect and that mistakes will be made by both of you.
Next, you have to be able to communicate with one another. Always be open and honest with each other. Be sure to address any problems or disagreements before they get out of hand. Unresolved issues that are not addressed properly will likely resurface in different forms and then one person in the relationship won't understand what the problem is and why it came up at that particular time.
You have to be able to accept that there are imperfections in us all. No one is perfect. Those imperfections don't mean that there can't be compromise in the relationship or that the relationship is going to fail. You can use this as an opportunity to learn about each other's weaknesses and short-comings, learn to accept them and grow from there, both as individuals and as a couple.
Another best practice of 'rescue relationship' counselors is to suggest the couple take a break from everything. If communication does not work, maybe not talking about a certain problem may be the best solution after all. Stepping back from a heated conversation does not mean backing out from something. The gesture is a proof of one's respect and love to the other. By doing this, the mind is cleared from everything too, allowing rationality and practicality to come into the scene.
Learn to be thankful for your significant other and be there for them. When one is feeling down, the other should be that shoulder for them to cry on. If one is happy or is in a celebratory mood, be sure to join in and support them.
Make sure to have fun together. Working on a relationship doesn't have to stress you out or be boring. Make everything fun; be spontaneous with new ideas to keep the relationship fresh. It's easy to forget the reasons why you fell in love in the first place. Think about how much fun it was in the beginning and do some of the things that made the two of you the happiest and include more of that in your lives.
Although these 'rescue relationship' techniques won't apply to everyone, they will work for many. Take inspiration from these tips and get your relationship back on the right path.