5 Secrets Of Successful Long-Term Relationships

A long-term relationship is work and anyone who tells you different is lying. That being said, here are five keys that might help.

I'm far from perfect, you can ask my wife of 12 years. She'll also tell you that she isn't either.

That's the most important key in sustaining a long-term relationship.

1. You're not perfect and you shouldn't expect your partner to be either

It's a simple concept: If you think that he or she'll be perfect and there's going to be some fairy-tale relationship forever, you're doomed. I remember being told "you don't love your significant other despite their flaws, you love them because their flaws."

2. If you don't listen to him/her, they won't listen to you

Listening is key. If you hear but don't actually listen you're not paying attention. It's not the kind of listening that goes along with "and can you pick up a gallon of milk." It's more along the lines of "I had a bad day..." kind of listening. If you can't do that, your partner will start to confide in someone else who can and will listen.

3. You need to wholeheartedly trust the person you're with

If there is any inkling of mistrust you need to have a conversation with that person. If you constantly have trust issues he or she is probably going to start mistrusting you as a result. It may seem as if you have something to hide and you're projecting your very own trust issues. Trusting someone makes you vulnerable but you have to "take the leap" if you really want to make the relationship last long-term.

4. The space between can't be understated

I'm not saying that you need to have time apart to enjoy each others company more but you need to have something that is separate from the "couple unit." If dropping everything that makes you "YOU" in order to be everything that the other person wants you'll end up miserable. A great partner convinces to you to be unafraid of the kind of person that you've always wanted to be.

5. You need to laugh together

This is a big one for me personally. I couldn't imagine being with someone who doesn't share the same sense of humor as I do. If you can't crack jokes, laugh at TV and movies together how are you going to get through the tough moments in life? Laughter really is the best medicine.