A fulfilling romantic relationship is what many of us strive for. Going through life with our soulmate can be a beautiful thing. It can also be complicated.
No matter how strong the love is between the couple, there are differences in each individual’s personality, interests and goals. Even little things that may have been tolerated at the beginning of a relationship can become annoying as the couple gets more comfortable with each other.
As odd as that may sound, there are actually four major stages in a relationship .
Stage 1: The Euphoric Stage
The euphoric stage is the falling-in-love stage. It’s when we can overlook any and all faults of the other person.
For this reason, there is very little conflict at this stage. A feeling of oneness is strong. In fact, the connection and chemistry are strong enough to bring about separation anxiety —you want to be with the other person all of the time. It’s also probably the most likely time that a woman will receive flowers.
This stage typically lasts around six months (but can go up to around two years). During this stage, it’s probably best to not make any major decisions about the relationship. The time it takes to really get to know the other person is crucial for future success .
Stage 4: The Settling Down Stage
At this point, a couple has learned to communicate with each other and knows how to weather any storms. It’s a calm stage where the couple has respect for each other and has a feeling of security in the relationship.
This is the most mature love. Many folks in this stage that battle with instability in relationships may find this stage to be boring or signal to them that since it’s not ‘dramatic’ like before, it’s not real love. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
This is the stage where a couple finds they are able to finish each other’s sentences (pardon the cliché). They know each other so well and an even deeper attachment is formed and when you find each other predictable, it can be incredibly comforting.
Stage 2: The Reality Check
Human nature tends to be selfish. At some point, our individual needs and interests will be revisited and annoyances will not be tolerated as easily as in the first stage of love. Life also gets hectic with other responsibilities and commitments and it becomes harder to get that good quality one-on-one time.
In the first stage, you may have wanted to spend all your time with each other, but as you enter stage two, it’s normal and healthy to want time separate from your partner.
Stage 3: The Crisis Stage
Once a couple makes it through the reality check and a stronger attachment is formed, then comes the crisis stage. At this stage, everything about each other is out in the open. Since you have become even more comfortable with each other, you really know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
As you enter this stage, it’s so important to have your expectations and dealbreakers. Many people at this stage may feel like they have invested a lot of time into the relationship and, of course, find it hard to end it.
At this point, couples will usually decide if this is the true person they want to be with. For many couples, this stage is also confirming when you are still deeply in love with the other person.
However, when couples are not in harmony, this could be the breaking point of the relationship.
