#relationships

#relationships

I love my fiancée so much that I proposed to her twice. It wasn't because I didn't believe my lover - who is admittedly far out of my league - the first time she said yes, nor was it my pesky perfectionism rearing its demanding head because not every detail went according to plan. Rather, certain aspects of our engagement didn't quite meet our expectations.

What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult for each other? Since then, I have never treated my relationships the same. I struggle with depression, which can make maintaining balance in a relationship extremely difficult. But if I can say to myself at the end of the day that I have done one thing just one little thing to make his life better, then I feel as if I haven't failed the day entirely. Brandi, North Carolina

Simply put, "A minimal effort partner is a person who does the bare minimum when it comes to their relationship," Dr. Marisa T. Cohen, relationship expert for the dating app Hily told HuffPost. This is a partner who will put in little work when it comes to the relationship, neglect their partner's needs and give indications that they might not be fully invested in the relationship.

Key points Seasonal hormone shifts and holiday pressure can heighten the urge for connection in fall and winter. Many cuffing season relationships rely on comfort and proximity rather than long-term compatibility. A relationship built to last will sustain experiences outside the winter "bubble" and shared routines. Long before the internet, scientists, psychologists, and sociologists observed that seasonal changes in our hormones can influence our relationships with one another.

Just ask: 'what makes you feel most loved?' She says the answer can reveal emotional needs even long-term couples may not fully understand. 'It helps couples understand each other's love languages, what each person needs to feel special and cared for,' Nadkarni told Reader's Digest. Even highly compatible couples can differ in attachment styles and love languages, which can affect how they give and receive affection.

The most seemingly in-love famous couple on the scene these days is no doubt A$AP Rocky and Rihanna. When appearing on a podcast recently, Rocky was asked how they keep the spark alive, and he talked about making time for each other, and dating and being friends. This is an overly complicated answer as far as I'm concerned. I think the main way to stay interested in one's relationship with Rihanna is to be in a relationship with Rihanna. Just look at her.

Relationships that matter will, at some point, require two people to sit across from each other and have a hard conversation. Disappointment, hurt, boundaries, power, change, or loss-no matter how emotionally challenging the topic, they're all non-negotiable subjects that need to be discussed in relationships. In a sense, they're a part of the regular relationship curriculum that people don't talk about.

It seems that Amy is no fan of (or incapable of accessing) Occam's razor. Your story-the ostensible truth-makes at least a little more sense than the one Amy concocted, in which her husband cheated carelessly), but it is frustrating that when presented a wholly plausible story by multiple sources, Amy is opting for the one she wrote. You should consider that this might be above your pay grade.

For Love & Money is a column from Business Insider answering your relationship and money questions. This week, a reader is frustrated that his partner of nearly a decade is avoidant with financial planning. Our columnist suggests either being comfortable with separate finances or gently guiding his partner along her personal finance journey. Dear For Love & Money, My partner and I have been together for almost 10 years now.

Ever notice how some couples navigate the grocery store like a well-choreographed dance while others seem to be having entirely different shopping experiences in the same aisle? Last weekend, I watched a couple in the produce section operate with this almost telepathic efficiency - one grabbed tomatoes while the other weighed bananas, no words needed. Meanwhile, my partner and I were having our usual debate about whether we really needed three types of cheese.

If you're like most people, you'd probably pick the first guy. But here's what you can't see: The Tesla driver is drowning in debt, works 80-hour weeks at a job he hates, and hasn't had a genuine conversation with his kids in months. Meanwhile, the cyclist runs his own business, spends afternoons with his family, and sleeps peacefully every night.

There are two types of people in the world: type A and type B. Or so common wisdom says, anyway - of course, as with anything human, we're all much more complex than that. Still, sorting people into type A and type B categories can sometimes serve as useful shorthand for understanding ourselves and others. This is especially true in romantic relationships.

"It means showing up and navigating discomfort by having honest conversations, and it sometimes means choosing your partner when it's hard and doesn't feel super cozy. There's no sweeping music and no perfect lighting - just a partnership that grows stronger the more you actually do the work."

Last week at a dinner party, I watched two of my friends get into a heated discussion about, of all things, whether dishes should be rinsed before going in the dishwasher. What started as playful teasing quickly escalated into accusations about control issues and wasted water. It got me thinking about all those tiny household habits that reveal so much more about us than we realize.

In recent years, Lennox says, she's also gotten sober and started dating with greater intention. Her third album, Vacancy, documents this sense of resolve. "There's a space, a void I would love for someone to fill," she said in a recent interview. "But the reality is people be in and out like a gosh darn hotel." It's the potency of that still-unrequited desire and her indefatigable drive to fulfill it that's at the emotional crux of the record.

To a large extent, research agrees that open, honest communication predicts higher relationship satisfaction, deeper trust between partners, and longevity of their shared bond. However, he says, there's nuance within that. A truth that might startle most couples is that more communication is not always better communication. He explains that discovering this doesn't mean now resorting to playing games or withholding feelings: Instead, they should try to focus on learning the difference between healthy expression and over-processing.

Long-term relationships aren't easy. No matter how compatible two people might be, inevitably, there will be times when differences in opinions lead to arguments. Conflict, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. In fact, when handled well, it can lead to greater intimacy because partners feel heard, understood, and respected, essential ingredients for a solid emotional connection. On the other hand, hurtful conversations are divisive and can corrode the foundation of any relationship over time.

I had some messed up ideas around a woman's role and the influence of porn on that Jake was my first. I was 17 and he was 18. I lost my virginity way later than all my friends; sex had been so far out of my comfort zone. For me it was like social currency and I put a lot of pressure on myself to get it done.