[spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]

Photos by Brandon Hill

With Thanksgiving coming up later this week, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about all of the things I’m thankful for. My fiance Austin is right at the top of my list! We’ve been together for about five years now, and just got engaged this past August. As I’ve started to plan my wedding I’ve been reflecting back on our time together and thought it would be fun to share with you guys a few of my tips for a happy relationship.

1. Respect
I put respect as number one because I truly think this is the most important thing in a relationship. It’s a building block that makes way for trust, honesty, and real support. Everyone wants to be respected, but you have to give it in order to get it. It’s a two way street! Stay away from name calling, belittling, and blown-up accusations—especially during arguments. P.S. if you’re not with someone that you respect then my advice is to drop ‘em like they’re hot.

2. Communication
We’ve all heard it before; communication is key. You can’t expect your partner to be a mind reader. If something is bothering you, you have to be able to open up about it. Bottling things up whether it has something to do with your partner or not is never a good idea because eventually… you will most likely explode. Furthermore, letting your partner in is a way for you to build a bond. Life is unpredictable. You and your partner need to be there for each other and have the ability to weather all kinds of storms together as a unit.

3. Learn to Say Sorry
This one is much easier said than done. Admitting you’re wrong is something that’s tough for all of us. It’s a lot simpler to lose your temper or stage a dramatic walk out in the midst of an argument. Keep in mind that there are generally two sides to everything and try to see things from your partner’s perspective. Telling your side of things always goes over a lot better if you apologize for the role you played before launching into why your partner is in the wrong.

4. Compromise
This one kind of goes along with my previous tip. Fact of the matter is, you and your partner are going to disagree every now and then. A relationship is a partnership—it’s not all about you. Keep in mind that a compromise is not necessarily about giving something up, it’s about finding a common ground so that both of you can win.

5. Be Yourself
You should be your partner’s biggest fan and vice versa. However, being supportive doesn’t mean that the two of you have to like all of the same things or have the same ideas about everything. Austin and I don’t have every single thing in common—and that’s ok! We both bring things to the relationship, and we have the opportunity to learn from one another.

These are all things that have worked for me, but each relationship is unique. The bottom line is that all relationships take work and effort. What are your relationship tips? I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment down below or shoot me a DM on Instagram.

[/spb_text_block]