Life
Excuse the cheesy Hallmark card tone of voice here, but when you're in a relationship with someone you really care about, it makes you better. It's not about impressing someone or showing off anymore. When you get down to it, your significant other can make you a better person — and they should
Take me for example. Before I met my husband, I had never been in any truly successful relationships. So you can imagine how bringing someone else into my life rocked my way of thinking. He did things differently than me and frankly, it took me a while to get used to not being alone in my life. But, once I got past it and settled into the relationship, I realized that he was bringing out a new, better me. I felt comfortable, confident and beautiful with him and I wanted to put his needs before my own.
The same is true for any healthy relationship. Though it isn't always easy, ultimately your significant other will make you a better version of yourself. Whether you've been together for a few months or more years than you can count on one hand, your partner should bring out the best in you. Here are just a few ways being with a great partner can actually make you a better person.
1They Challenge You
Being in a relationship will push you and force you to grow. Maybe your partner is a loud eater or maybe they fold the laundry differently than you wish. Learning acceptance and patience, or even trying a new way of doing things will push you outside of your comfort zone, but ultimately that's a good thing.
2They Give You Confidence
Being in a relationship can make you feel awesome, no doubt about it. Though it's not the only way to feel confident, being with someone who constantly reiterates how great you are can help you believe it even more.
3They Expand Your Horizons
Bringing another person into your life inevitably means you're inviting new opinions, backgrounds and choices in too. While it's certainly important to share the same core values, your partner will have different ideas and view points than you- and that's a good thing.
4They Teach You Selflessness
Being in a healthy relationship means putting someone before yourself. To make someone else feel loved, you have to put your needs second to their own.
5They Bring Out The Best (And Worst) In You
Your partner should not only draw out your best qualities, but your worst as well. Let me explain: if you're truly comfortable with someone, they'll see the good, bad and ugly. Having someone who you can ugly cry in front of and share your bad days with is just as important as having someone you can laugh and be awesome with.
6They Make You A Better Communicator
If you can't communicate well with each other, you can expect things to go south pretty quickly. Learning how to communicate your feelings, boundaries and thoughts with your partner is one of the most valuable skills you can learn.
7They Teach You How To Trust
Trust is maybe the single most important quality of a relationship. If you're in a healthy one, you will naturally trust your significant other. "When social psychologists ask people in relationships, 'what is the most desirable quality you're looking for in a partner' trustworthiness is number one," John Gottman, the country's leading couples researcher explained. "It's not being sexy or attractive. It's really being able to trust somebody." If you can trust your SO, then everything else will fall into place.
