"The Art of Loving: Complexity of Romantic Relationships.

When it comes to romantic relationships, the list of pros is endless, and all are well worth discussing to counter the latest trend on singleness.

Speaking to people who chronically avoid commitment, and who feel unprepared to care for another person:

There is no faster way to growth and healing than trying to coexist with another human being and learning to love them unconditionally

-"I want to be in the relationship, but I wanted it to be easy."

-"well, that aint going to happen :)"

After past try and error and fear of sharing my life with another person, I've started to study relationship dynamics in depth, and finally, at the age of 38, after a full year of therapy and 4 years of college, learned that ease is not an ingredient that can be found in romance. Even with the best partner, we still have to face our own preconceptions and insecurities.

However, regardless of the difficulty of building a relationship, there are countless benefits to taking this path, where two people get to work consciously towards a common goal. This is where we learn to take down the walls in front of us, brick by brick and reuse them to build a strong foundation for lasting love.

As difficult as romantic relationships are, they benefit both people in multiple ways and help them to understand themselves in a way that's only possible during this process, learning to love unconditionally and unravelling past trauma through the unavoidable triggers when we try to share our lives with another human.

The first and most important benefit of a relationship is the deep emotional connection you experience with your partner. Nothing beats the feeling of sharing your life with someone who truly understands you. And the mutual support that comes with a romantic relationship is priceless.

Your partner is there to celebrate your successes, comfort you during tough times, and provide encouragement and guidance along the way. Being able to give the same in return is as rewarding. Practising love and support towards the partner evokes feelings of fulfilment and growth, as well as gives us a sense of accomplishment daily through the virtue of service.

Being in a romantic relationship can also inspire personal growth and development. Through shared experiences and challenges, you have the opportunity to learn more about yourself, improve your communication skills, and become a better partner.

From romantic dates to adventurous travels, being in a relationship means creating lasting memories together.

And the companionship? It's irreplaceable. Having someone by your side through life's ups and downs adds richness and meaning to your life.

The romantic relationship also brings about a few challenges, but despite the difficulties, if we navigate through them skillfully, the challenges we face with our partners can amplify our self-awareness and lead to growth on an individual level.

Challenge of Communication

Communication can be a tricky thing in a romantic relationship, but it's essential for a healthy relationship with our partner. However, differences in communication styles and unresolved conflicts, past experiences and triggers can lead to tension and discord. And while being in a relationship offers companionship, it's important to remember that you and your partner are two unique individuals with your own needs, desires, and goals.

This bit may be the hardest to comprehend, as when in conflict, partners have a tendency to focus on their own needs more than on the needs of the other.

Threat to Individuality.

Balancing individuality with togetherness can be challenging, but no relationship is without its challenges, and disagreements due to individuality are a natural part of any partnership.

We often struggle with the part of maintaining individuality since most of us at the beginning of a relationship want to put our “best foot forward”, and specifically when intensely infatuated, we neglect our own needs in order to get along with our mate and make them happy. Over time, however, we get back to our own sense of selves, which may become a surprise to our loved ones and strain the connection, specifically for the anxious partners.

Overcoming the Fear.

Of course, being in a romantic relationship also requires vulnerability and trust, which can sometimes lead to feelings of insecurity or fear of rejection.

This is a leap of faith we often need to take, and be mindful at the same time of the fact that yes, it may not work out. But unless we step into the relationship with both feet, it certainly will not.

Maintaining a healthy relationship also requires time, effort, and energy. Balancing work, personal interests, and quality time with your partner can be a juggling act, requiring careful planning and thoughtful prioritisation.

It isn't easy, but it's worthwhile.

Romantic relationships can be incredibly fulfilling and offer many benefits that make our lives more interesting. They provide us with companionship, intimacy, emotional support, and a sense of belonging. However, they're not always easy and can come with their own complex set of challenges.

It's important to acknowledge both the advantages and disadvantages of being in a romantic relationship and to actively work towards overcoming obstacles that may arise in the process. By doing so, we can cultivate strong, healthy, and lasting partnerships that bring great joy and meaning to our lives. This requires effective communication, mutual respect, trust, and a willingness to compromise and make sacrifices when necessary.

In the end, a successful romantic relationship is built on a foundation of love, compassion, and understanding, and that allows both partners to grow and thrive together, however, to be able to get into a successful relationship we need to be ready to face our fears prejudice and go through discomfort which is inevitable while we're trying to share our lives with another person.

No relationship is easy to build, but a relationship approached with love and care adds substance to our lives, focused on "what can I give?" rather than "what will I get?" will add to our live in most meaningful way.

With Love 🤍