Being in a fulfilling relationship with another person is a goal that many of us share. Unfortunately, as well as a place of love, comfort, and support, romantic relationships can also be something of a minefield – that is likely to blow up in our faces at any given moment! The good news is you can find out about some of the most common mistakes at each stage in a relationship and how to avoid them, below. 

Initial stages (getting together and first dates)  

Many fine men end up struggling to get into a relationship because they fall at the first hurdle – the initial stages of getting together. Indeed, many guys end up getting friendzoned before they have even had a chance to prove themselves in a relationship. 

Fortunately, you can find out all about How To Get Out Of The Friend Zone in a way that does not rely on the nice guy vs bad boy dynamic. Something that means you can focus on being your most authentic self while maximizing your chances of progressing in a relationship with the person of your choice. 

Steady dating 

For many guys, steady dating can seem like the dream but end up being a nightmare. Often, the reason for this is that we don’t know ourselves well enough and we mistake stability for being trapped. Indeed, there is more than one man that has started to panic when all the excitement of the ‘shall we shan’t we stage’ is over, and there is no challenge left.

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for this problem. Instead, it’s a matter of getting honest without ourselves and our partners about our feelings. Yes, this means we need to be vulnerable. Ultimately, however, it’s about deciding whether staying is worth the emotional work involved, something that many people choose to see a therapist for support with. 

Engaged 

Being engaged is an exciting time, after all, there is plenty of planning and organizing to do, not to mention stag dos and the big day to look forward to. However, it can also be an odd time in a relationship, with lots of extra pressure both financial and familial. 

Indeed, one of the biggest mistakes you can make at this stage is not to recognize the family dynamic of the person you are marrying. Do you always have to agree with it, and go along with it? No, of course not. However, understanding how things work will let you put the needs of your SO first. Therefore preventing you from making any nasty faux pas when you end up siding with her family against her in error.

Married 

There is a big difference between getting comfortable in a relationship and taking advantage of one another. Of course, it’s the former that you want to do rather than the latter, and this means you will need to make the effort to appreciate the other person from time to time. 

The best way to do this is to use a technique called loved languages. That is find out the way that your SO receives love from you, and then regularly make sure you offer them it in this form.