Amor y otras cosas: How to Keep a Relationship Healthy

• José Luis López Velarde tells you how to maintain a healthy romantic relationship.
• It’s not just about good actions, but also about avoiding certain situations.
• Once again, communication is fundamental for a relationship’s growth.

Working on beliefs: In a romantic relationship, it’s crucial to understand that our personal beliefs influence our actions and reactions.

José Luis suggests that, to improve the relationship, it’s important to identify and explore these beliefs.

For example, if one partner doesn’t show affection with gifts or flowers, it may be useful to investigate their underlying beliefs about the meaning of those gestures.

If you find out that person doesn’t value gifts because they were taught they are not important, you can address the issue by working on those beliefs and looking for ways to express love that are meaningful to both.

Routines in the relationship

Implementing rituals. Rituals in a romantic relationship can strengthen emotional connection and communication.

José Luis suggests the idea of establishing regular dates, like once a week, with a set schedule and planned activities.

These dates provide a dedicated space to talk, share, and deepen the relationship. The importance of having surprise rituals planned, like a surprise date on an anniversary, is also mentioned.

These rituals can keep the spark alive in the relationship and remind both partners how important they are to each other.

Classifying arguments

Understanding that not all arguments are the same is essential.

Instead of approaching every argument in the same way, López Velarde suggests classifying them according to their importance and magnitude.

For example, an argument about who will open the car door can be considered less important (level 1), while an argument about infidelity (level 3) is more serious.

By identifying the level of an argument, you can use specific communication strategies to handle it effectively.

Not arguing via text messages

It’s emphasized that arguments via text messages or social media are rarely effective in solving relationship problems.

Instead of turning to these platforms to resolve conflicts, it’s recommended that important discussions be held face to face.

In-person communication allows a deeper understanding of emotions and prevents misunderstandings that often arise in written conversations.

This will avoid possible misunderstandings, as communication will be clear and confusions will be minimized.

Putting yourself in their shoes

One of the key pieces of advice is that you should not treat your partner as you would like to be treated, but as they wish to be treated.

This involves paying attention to the partner’s needs, desires, and preferences and adapting actions and behavior accordingly.

It’s not about imposing our own expectations, but about being empathetic and respectful with what the partner values and appreciates in the relationship.

In summary, these tips focus on the importance of communication, mutual understanding, and adaptation to the needs and desires of the partner to strengthen and maintain a healthy and satisfying romantic relationship. José Luis López Velarde says goodbye to you. Until next time!