Five tips to maintain a happy relationship

Relationships expert Georgianna Donadio offered advices to maintain successful relationship, Huffingtonpost reported March. 13.

It is no coincidence that the partners in happy couples share many of the same behavioral patterns in how they treat one another.

Often we think that being happy means we have fun sharing the same hobbies or doing everything as a couple. But she offers another perspective.

Be Friends

Being friends and genuinely liking your partner is one of the most important components of a happy and successful relationship. If you don't like the other person, how can you truly love them?

Have your own life

Developing a healthy relationship is about two independent and emotionally mature individuals joining company to share their lives together. Sometimes our needs can become interjected into our relationships in a way that creates a co-dependent dynamic and this can derail happiness in an intimate relationship.

Be Fully, Purely Present to Your Partner

It has been said that there is no greater gift than our full, complete presence to another. Being authentically interested and attentive to the other person is a hallmark of a healthy, happy relationship.

Show and Express Affection

Physical touch is an important part of happiness and fulfillment in relationships. Couples will often say that just holding hands or sharing affection with their partner is the very important part of their feeling loved and cared for.

Communicate

By actively communicating with your partner on an ongoing basis you can avoid many of the problems that arise in relationships before they occur. By being proactive and checking in with each other on a regular basis to see how things are for the other person, this will go a long way in preventing and avoiding conflicts.