{"id":3152,"date":"2023-06-11T17:52:09","date_gmt":"2023-06-11T17:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/?p=3152"},"modified":"2023-06-11T17:52:10","modified_gmt":"2023-06-11T17:52:10","slug":"the-often-overlooked-glue-of-long-term-relationships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondchai.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/11\/the-often-overlooked-glue-of-long-term-relationships\/","title":{"rendered":"The Often-Overlooked Glue of Long-Term Relationships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By\u00a0Lisa Brookes Kift, MFT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: https:\/\/loveandlifetoolbox.com\/the-often-overlooked-glue-of-long-term-relationships\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people know what it feels like in the beginning of a relationship when both of your brains are busy bringing you together, as in the \u201choneymoon phase.\u201d\u00a0 Romantic love produces high levels of dopamine, creating euphoric feelings and the resulting behaviors for each other.\u00a0 You are at the beginning of building\u00a0emotional safety, putting energy into prioritizing, listening, and validating each other.\u00a0 Your best face is forward in your kindness and attentiveness as you slowly build important trust between you.\u00a0 You spend a lot of time thinking about each other, and you may feel the warm and fuzzies of a love buzz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much have been said about the fact that this phase typically fades. Couples are hopefully left with the aspects of each other that they fell in love with to flow with the ups and downs of life together.  It can be fairly seamless but often not.  If there was an over-focus on the high of early love and not enough insight into the realities of each other, including the less desirable parts, the transition may be a challenge.  As vulnerabilities or \u201cwarts\u201d start to reveal themselves, how well do couples adapt?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back to emotional safety.\u00a0 With the glow of the \u201choneymoon\u201d out of sight in the rearview mirror, they need to rely on other connection points.\u00a0 Ideally, they really enjoy being with each other, have mutual trust and respect, and shared relationship goals to positively move ahead.\u00a0 If they have general goodwill and a collaborative spirit, they can avoid letting mistakes or life pitfalls cast doubt on their ability to rely on each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what keeps intimate partnerships thriving for the long haul?\u00a0 Communication, conflict resolution, crisis management ability, finances, and views on parenting are some of the few keys, but there is one aspect that can be missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The little moments are the often-overlooked glue of long-term relationships.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Life goes on.\u00a0 Days become weeks, become months, and then years.\u00a0 Couples need to adapt to things happening internally and externally in their lives.\u00a0 But the \u201clittle moments\u201d of their ongoing interaction patterns are critical.\u00a0 The list of these moments can be infinite as people feel loved in different ways, but the important thing is that whatever it is for each person in the relationship, that the little moments happen and somewhat regularly.\u00a0 Here are a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n