Things To Do Before Starting A New Relationship Or Renewing An Old One

As human beings we crave the bonds that we feel when we are involved in a relationship. It is a comforting feeling to know that you are loved. But if a relationship is jumped into without any thought or planning it can result in utter turmoil for the partners.

Relationships can add interest and harmony to our life; or they can add drama and complete chaos. It really depends on the nature of the relationship and the commitment of both partners involved. If we approach the development of a relationship as a project that requires planning and step-by-step actions we can create the type of relationships we want. There are some things that should be done before we even start that new relationship or before we renew an old one.

We have all heard that in order to love someone we have to love ourselves first. To go one step beyond that, in order to truly love yourself you will need to really know yourself.

You should be able to define your dreams and goals. You should know what your future overall plans are. You should have a clear understanding of the type of relationship that you want and what your expectations of your partner are.

The reason this information is so crucial before you begin a relationship is that you will need to share this with your partner. And this information should be shared at the start of a relationship, not months or years later.

This article is not about self-development but it is a good idea to work on yourself before you begin a new relationship. Get in touch with the you that lives hidden inside. I am referring to the person that you do not always show to the rest of the world.

By having a genuine understanding of who you really are you will be in a better position to develop a relationship that incorporates that part of you. Although that may not seem important at the onset of a new relationship over time it will become vital to the success of that relationship.

An example is this; an extroverted person meets someone they care about who happens to love to spend time at home. This new person would rather cook dinner and then spend time watching TV, reading, or exploring the Internet than to have a night out on the town. The partner that loves meeting people and all social activities may not mind spending time at home for a period of time. But after a month or two, or even six months he or she will probably be ready to explode from boredom.

By that time the relationship has grown and the partner was never aware of the fact that staying home was an issue. That partner is perfectly content with the way things are going. So at such a point in the relationship a compromise may be a little harder to adjust to.

If in the beginning this issue had been addressed either a compromise would have been reached or the partners may have agreed that they were two very different people and perhaps a friendship would be better than a relationship.

The point is that you should get in touch with your personal desires, values and goals. Then when you meet someone you have to make it a point to learn about what is important to them; even to the part of them that is hiding inside. As you are learning about the new person you will be building a strong friendship. By sharing intimate details of your inner selves you will better be able to determine if a long-term relationship will last.