Almost fifty percent of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce or separation. Today it is crucial to pick a partner carefully and find someone you love that loves you just as much in return. It should not be to the point of infatuation, but someone that you will be able to make a life-long partner. There are a few qualities I believe make a strong bond between couples. I believe having a partner that is mature makes a difference, the person needs to be honest and live with integrity, and also be respectful and sensitive.
The idea of someone being mature is not merely a matter of acting like an adult. It is not about a boyfriend that remembers to take out the trash or a girlfriend that never runs late. It is truly about making an active effort to recognize and resolve negative influences like the nagging ex-boyfriend that won't accept the split up. When a person matures emotionally, they are less likely to re-enact negative past dynamics in their current relationships. They will also develop a strong sense of independence by learning from their destructive experiences earlier in life. As they grow into themselves, they are less likely to look for someone to compensate for their shortcomings and weaknesses. For example, they would not have someone around because they are not financially stable at the time. Instead, they will look for someone to grow with and also someone that they can share a life with and appreciate as part of a couple and as an individual. .
In a serious relationship, one needs to understand the importance of honesty. It is crucial to have this trait because honesty builds trust between people. When one is dishonest in a relationship it confuses the other, and this shatters trust. I believe there is nothing more destructive in a close relationship than dishonesty. Even in painful situations such as cheating, lying to your partner is equally if not more painful than the act itself.
