By michael - March, 1st 2014

In order to truly have a loving, supportive, and long-lasting relationship with someone else, you need to learn how to be your own best friend first.  It’s all about falling in love with yourself and sharing that love with someone who appreciates you, rather than looking for love to compensate for a self love deficit.

While it’s true that our happiness shouldn’t depend entirely on having a partner, the reality is that a close relationship definitely enhances our lives. But even once you’re in a relationship, a healthy, intimate bond can weaken if not nurtured properly. These five irrefutable truths influence the quality and longevity of a relationship—if you want to build and maintain a strong, loving relationship, take them to heart.

1. You get back what you put in. Treating others the way you want to be treated is always important; with a romantic partner, this is even more significant. Kindness can go a long way in a relationship. Even little things like picking up the phone or sending a text just to say “I love you” can make a difference in your loved one’s day.

2. Forgiveness may not always be easy, but it takes someone with strength to forgive.Forgiving not only helps the person you’re forgiving, but …

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