Dating In DC 101 ~ What Makes A Successful Relationship?

Nothing is perfect, except maybe falling snow, the petals of a budding rose, a butterfly's wings, sorry I digress. Well no relationship is perfect either, but you can stack the odds in your favor by considering a few things:

~Chemistry~

When you meet someone who is attractive to you your brain releases "feel good" chemicals in your body. You know the feelings of anxiousness, butterflies in your stomach, and the endless smile you can't wipe off your face when you just think about that special someone. But be careful, as good as it feels in the moment it could be short lived so you have to dig deeper.

~Emotional Intimacy~

How you connect with a person on an emotional level is emotional intimacy. This has nothing to do with sex, but rather how you feel when you are around each other. Are you comfortable and happy? Are they understanding, kind, and considerate? Do you trust one another with your thoughts, dreams, fears, and desires?

~Compatibility~

Opposites might attract but don't necessarily make them good life time partners. Compatible means you are like minded. You don't have to like all of the same things, but you do need to be like minded in key areas of you lives like:

* Finances

* Friends

* Sense of Humor

* Basic Values, and

* Sex

~Communication~

Each partner brings a different set of communication tools into the relationship. Couples who know how to communicate their ideas, thoughts, and opinions increase their chances of having  a long and meaningful relationship. Successful couples have learned how to communicate with each other. They aren't demanding, lose their tempers, or resort to name calling and other verbally abusive language.

~Mental Intimacy~

This has everything to do with commitment. Commitment is when a couple makes a conscious decision and effort to work through their relationship problems regardless of the challenges they face as a couple.

The myth is that men are afraid of commitment. That is far from the truth, they are just afraid of committing to the wrong woman. Women should take a page from their book and not settle, and make sure that they commit to the right man.

Are you good relationship material?

Smooches and Happy Dating!