Family and Faith Magazine January 2015 | Page 14

RELATIONSHIPS 1 . Shared values: Similar values, having the same social and or religious backgrounds. 2. 3. Friendships: Lasting relationships depend more on “I like you”, than on “I love you”. Intimacy: Intimacy involves listening and listening is the language of love. Happy couples encourage intimacy through praise and mutual reinforcement. 4. 5. Fighting Fair: Whether lovers grow apart can often be traced to how conflicts are resolved. Tolerance: Most successful couples, acknowledge that many problems are unsolvable and learn to work around them. They focus on what’s good about the relationship, so that it becomes the core of the relationship, while negatives become peripheral. 6. Passion: Virtually all researchers agree that sexual attraction peaks within the first year or two of a relationship. But the happiest couples still have plenty of ‘sexy’ feelings left. Staying at a peak isn’t necessary for a happy union. An enduring attraction is. An ongoing sexual relationship with one person is the most intense, fulfilling experience any human can have. 7. 8. Equality: The lovers with the best chance for happiness contribute equally to a relationship. Trust: Feeling of love may wax and wane during a relationship, but trust is a constant. Infidelity is the most devastating betrayal of trust a couple can experience. 9. the ake T FFM ge! llen Cha Commitment: Successful couples don’t take each other for granted but work constantly at rejuvenating their good feelings for each other. The most satisfied couples put more thought and energy into their relationship than they put into their children or career. Commitment serves as commitment to each other. 14 Family and Faith Magazine | Facebook to learn about the Family and Faith Challenge for January! the cornerstone of marriage; first a commitment to God and then a Dr. Barry Davidson is the CEO of Family Life Ministries. Send comments to [email protected] Visit us on www.facebook.com/familyandfaithmagazine www.familyandfaithmagazine.com | Monday, January 5, 2015