23 Secrets & Real Life Problems that Make a Relationship More Stronger

Drifting apart? Relationship stuttering a little? You just need to know how to make your relationship stronger and inject it with extra longevity. 

Not all relationships thrive over the long term. You may be happy at first and then after that honeymoon phase ends, you’re left struggling to keep things together. Yet if you really care about that person, you want to know how to make your relationship stronger, so it can last.

You’re not alone in feeling this. A lot of people have to work hard to figure out how to grow as a couple. Relationships are hard work in general. The fact that you’re trying and putting forth an effort to make things better already shows so much.

[Read: 15 signs of a healthy relationship that keep couples happy and in love]

A relationship is a journey of ups and downs

Author Robert A. Heinlein once wrote, “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”

This quote rings loud and clear to couples all over the world. Whether you have been together for 40 years or 40 minutes, being able to prop your partner up and make them smile during hard times is an unmistakable challenge worth undergoing to become stronger.

Only when a couple goes through hardship will the players be able to tell if it’s worth sticking it out and working at it. Only through these trials can a relationship grow stronger as well.

Forgiveness is a big factor when it comes to relationships. Patience, kindness, and understanding, too, play a huge role in keeping relationships strong. This may seem very cliché, and you may have heard advice like this thousands of times before, but there’s plenty of truth to it.

You may not be able to control who you fall in love with, but you certainly can control how you go about loving this person in times of sadness and trouble. [Read: 25 reasons to love someone and hold onto them forever]

The key to a healthy relationship is TRYING

That’s it. It’s simply trying. A lot of people will say communication saves a relationship, and while that’s completely true, making an effort is the very first step.

As long as two people are trying, progress will be made and the relationship will improve.

Those who don’t try have already lost. Without putting forth any effort, nothing can get better. Someone who isn’t trying is a person who doesn’t care. And when one person doesn’t care, the relationship is already over. [Read: Why people take you for granted – 16 signs and firm ways to stop them]

How to make your relationship stronger so it can outlast anything

You will have to go through tough times together. That’s just the reality of relationships.

But the stronger your relationship, the better chance you have of making it. Here’s how you can bond more, delve deeper, and make your relationship as strong as it can be.

1. Talk to each other

We know you do talk to your partner. But, here we mean to talk about more than just the weather and how your days were.

Ask for details and really listen to them. Usually, people mean an awful lot more than what they say and by talking regularly, you’ll learn to read between the lines. [Read: 15 things to talk about in a perfect relationship]

2. Show how much you care

Don’t just say it. Words hardly mean anything if there aren’t actions to back them up.

So do nice things and show your significant other they’re in your life because you really want them to be. They’ll be grateful and happy to see it.

3. Talk about the important stuff

With this, we mean you have to talk to each other about the deep stuff. Discuss how you feel about major issues and make a point to dig deep. Making your relationship stronger is about staying close and this is how to do that. The more you talk about difficult things, the better. [Read: How to communicate in a relationship – 16 steps to a better love]

4. Always work to improve your sex life

Sex is a major part of any healthy, happy relationship. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. That being said, you’ll have to work hard in order to keep it fun and exciting.

If you’re both always trying to improve and make things better, it’s unlikely you’ll ever be unhappy with things. Talk about what you both need and then follow through with your plans to make it better. The better your sex life, the stronger you’ll be together. [Read: 30 ways to keep your sex life the best it can be]

5. Stay playful

Keep your fun, flirty attitude alive throughout the relationship. It’s usually present for the first few months and then fizzles out. Don’t let it. The more you’re able to sit back and laugh together, the stronger your relationship will be.

6. Be romantic whenever you can

Romance is needed in all relationships. Once again, this is something that’s usually really strong in the beginning but goes away over time.

The key to learning how to make your relationship stronger is finding new ways to be romantic and loving toward your partner. [Read: How to be more romantic – 15 mushy gestures to make any girl melt]

7. Always show your appreciation

It doesn’t have to be a big display, but a simple “thank you” can go a long way in making your relationship stronger. When your partner’s actions are appreciated and they know it means a lot to you, they’ll keep doing them.

Plus, the more they do for you, the more you’ll want to do for them. It’s an endless cycle of both of you giving to each other. That can never be bad for a relationship. [Read: 16 ways to show your appreciation for someone you love]

8. Fully discuss your arguments

Arguing and then forgetting about it is pointless. In fact, it makes things much worse. The more you fight and then don’t figure out the real issue, the further apart you’ll grow. Meaning, your relationship will be very weak.

Fully talk about your problems and come to a conclusion about them. Brushing things under the carpet will always come back to haunt you.

9. Try getting to know them more every day

We change a lot as time goes by. The person you were when you first entered your relationship might be different than who you are today.

The same is true for your partner. Make sure that you continue learning about your partner and let them learn more about you too. [Read: 150+ deep relationship questions every couple must ask each other]

10. Laugh at the embarrassing, silly stuff

When you’re in a long-term relationship, stuff can get messy. You get very up close and personal with many things about your partner.

You have to be able to laugh off those embarrassing moments and move on if you want to have a stronger relationship. Your relationship will be really strong if you can always do this. [Read: How to smile and laugh more to improve your life and relationship]

11. Always go on dates

Date nights aren’t just an option; they’re non-negotiable. You have to have them. Even if you can only go twice a month instead of once a week, it’s important that you both carve out time to be intimate with one another.

Making this a priority is essential. Don’t back out on date night unless your reason is really important. And even then, make it up to them.

12. Do things they love but you don’t

Sometimes you have to make sacrifices. They might really want to go see that new action movie you think looks awful. Take one for the team and go ahead and do it. They’ll do the same for you. The more selfless you are, the stronger your relationship will be. [Read: How to compromise in a relationship and not feel like you lost out]

13. Acknowledge when things aren’t okay

Every relationship has hard times. That’s okay. Be the person who decides to open up and talk about it.

Most people have a hard time with this and will end up holding everything inside. That’s the last thing you want. So discuss when things are bad and you want them to be better. [Read: 20 relationship problems that push a couple away or bring them closer]

14. Stay patient and learn how to forgive fully

Holding grudges really isn’t a great thing for relationships. You have to be able to forgive and then mean it. You also want to work on staying patient with your partner. Everyone has issues they might need to work through before they can make a relationship stronger.

15. Always try to impress them, no matter how long you’ve been together

This is one of the best pieces of advice for learning how to make your relationship stronger. Keep trying. Always work on impressing one another.

The more you do this, the happier you’ll both be and the stronger your relationship will become. [Read: 34 ways to build a stronger bond in your relationship]

What relationship problems make relationships better?

Troubles can serve as a wake-up call. Are you with the right person? Will they really be there through thick and thin? Sickness and health? There’s only one way to find out.

We would never wish these troubles on anyone, but if you have the misfortune of going through one or more of the issues identified below, the silver lining is that you can determine if the one you’re with is the right one for you.

Here are the biggest troubles that can strengthen your bond as a couple, provided you deal with them in the right way. Learning how to make your relationship stronger is sometimes about surviving as a couple. [Read: Giving up on life – 25 ways to find your strength and change your attitude]

1. Financial issues

Dealing with money troubles is a surefire way for you to gauge how strong your relationship is. Many people run for the hills when their partner is faced with financial ruin.

However, if you and your partner can stick together and get rid of the financial burden as a team, it will undoubtedly make your bond stronger than ever. [Read: 17 brilliant tips to save money as a couple]

2. Infidelity

Infidelity is not an issue to be toyed with. Breaking trust and scoffing in loyalty’s face are two issues many people will not tolerate. According to a survey, “Cheating plays a significant role in divorce. It is the third most common reason cited in the survey, with 55% of respondents saying infidelity caused their split.”

If you can forgive your partner for straying, there’s no denying that both of you will work harder to fix things. This, in turn, will help your relationship become a stronger one.

But, if you really can’t forgive, it’s better to walk away, as the ghost of their infidelity will always be around. Forgiving means putting it in the past and not bringing it up every time you have a disagreement. [Read: How to forgive someone who hurt you and release the negativity inside]

3. Job loss

When one partner loses their job, it can feel like your whole world is crumbling down. A single salary may not be enough to maintain the lifestyle you have, and you’ll have to make plenty of hard choices. But the challenges you face during these trying times will help to make you stronger as a couple.

If you stick together and persevere, you can make it work, no matter what. Money may make the world go round, but it certainly isn’t the main factor in a relationship.

Not only will you learn about the importance of saving up for monsoon season *because saving for a rainy day won’t didn’t cut it*, you’ll also learn that you can overcome anything if you have the right support and mentality in place. [Read: Selfless love and 18 traits that sets it apart from selfish love]

4. Temporary separation

Some people look at this as a flailing step that couples take before divorce, but on the contrary, a separation may just mend the problems you’re facing. The goal of a separation is, of course, to give one another the time and space to sort things out.

Whether it’s rebuilding trust, focusing on yourself, or just taking time to figure out what you want, there’s no denying that choosing to undergo a temporary separation may work out great for you.

This is because if you choose to get back together, you will appreciate how miserable you were apart and will realize you can overcome anything–if you want to.

Of course, you have to set some ground rules before committing to a separation. Examples include: no sleeping around, figuring out a timeframe, who gets the kids and when, and so on. These rules are determined by both of you, so think them through before implementing them. [Read: Relationship break – 24 rules to taking a break and how to plan for it]

5. Infertility

Not all couples who deal with infertility make it out unscathed. Blame, pain, hurt, grief, and loss are common emotions felt during this journey, and not everyone can learn to become a cohesive couple again.

However, there are others that emerge stronger than ever. If you can communicate clearly and lean upon each other for support, you’ll learn that you can overcome anything as a couple. You’ll discover that your love for one another is more important than anything else. [Read: 7 problems “down there” you shouldn’t ignore]

6. Joint assets

Some people may not look at having joint assets as a troubling issue, but there are many who do. More often than not, this seems like the logical financial step that many couples choose to take once they have established that they want to spend their lives together.

Joint tax returns and property tax deductions are a couple of examples. However, depending on how you want to look at it, sharing your assets may bring up more problems than benefits.

According to Investopedia, “Having both owners own the entire asset is a disadvantage in an unstable relationship.” It goes on to say, “If a couple is going through marital problems or two business partners are on the outs, neither party can sell or encumber the asset without the other party’s consent.”

You never know what the future holds. Your relationship may be rock solid, but you never know when bankruptcy, corrupt business practices, or even financial swindling may occur and pull the carpet out from under the two of you. As long as you’re prepared for that eventuality, having joint assets may strengthen your relationship rather than destroy it. [Read: Sharing expenses in a relationship – The 7 golden must-follow rules]

7. Illness

If you and your partner can stick together through a troubling illness, there’s no doubt that your relationship will be stronger than ever.

Whether it’s one of you or a loved one who falls sick, being faced with the possibility of losing someone you love is certainly a terrifying thing but when your partner is your rock beside you, you’ll become stronger together.

8. Death

Whether you and partner endure a miscarriage or loss of a loved one, such as a child, parent, or friend, there’s no denying that dealing with death is heartbreakingly difficult.

You need to give and receive as much support from one another as you can, and if you can emerge from the darkness hand-in-hand, there’s no doubt that you will be able to endure anything else that comes your way. [Read: 5 stages of grief in divorce and everything else in between]

There are plenty of troubling things that couples go through to become stronger than before. From the smallest issue, such as not remembering to put the toilet seat down, to something major like dealing with a sickness, there’s no doubt these troubles will take a lot out of the two of you.

However, if you work things out together and offer the support necessary to get through a difficult time, your relationship will emerge stronger than ever.

[Read: What is true love? 22 signs of love to know if your relationship is real]

Learning how to make your relationship stronger is all about working together. You’re a partnership. That means you each have to put forth the same effort in order to make it strong and successful.