10 Stages Of A Relationship- II

Stage 6: The Lack Of Fulfillment Stage
Unlike in the other stages of relationships, your partner is not going to meet all your needs at this point. There will be some things that your partner is not giving to you, and there will be some things that you are not giving to your partner. This will leave both of you slightly unfilled in the relationship, and if you don’t address these issues now, they are going to fester into sore spots that will affect your relationship negatively in the future. That will cause you to fight, feel bad, and possibly break up later on down the road.
To make it through this stage, you need to develop a way of talking about your relationship in a safe place where you can work through any issues that have creeped up. Experts recommend sitting down once a week and discussing your relationship. Reflecting on the week past, and which of your needs were not met, will help you fully explain to your partner why you feel like those needs were not met and what they can do about it, and vice versa. If you wait too long to talk about it, you may not have the insight into why you were upset or felt unfulfilled, so don’t wait more than a week to discuss relationship issues and build a plan to work through them.

Stage 7: The ‘Working On Our Relationship’ Stage

Now that you are clear on the things that are affecting you negatively, you can get to work. You will work on improving yourself in the relationship while your partner will work on themselves.
To make it through this stage, don’t try to change your partner. It’s impossible. They can only change what they want to change, and no bickering, fighting, or blaming is going to change that fact. You are discussing issues on a weekly basis at this point and if your partner is not understanding what you need, then you can bring it up in a different way at your next discussion. It may take a little while, but as long as your partner is hearing what you need and working on making the relationship work, then they will eventually make the changes they need to make themselves and you will get what you need.
If you partner is not actively engaged in this stage, then you must keep working on yourself. Some people find change uncomfortable, and it is only when they see the positive benefits in the relationship from your changes that they will start to make changes in themselves.
If you find that they are not making changes in themselves for a period of time that is too long, then seeking outside help is a good option. A therapist can help your partner see things in a new light that promote change in them and help you see things that promotes change in you. Therapists are trained to see problems that you may not see, offer solutions that you may not be able to find otherwise, and give you actionable exercises to practice after your session is over to help get the change that you desire.

Stage 8: The Bliss Stage

This is the stage where you are consistently working on your relationship with ease, and you have become a great team. Other people see how happy you are, you are grateful for the relationship you have, and you find comfort and support in your relationship that promotes happiness and bliss in your life.
This is another stage that is not hard to get through. You both feel like you are perfect for each other, and that propels you to easily do things that keep you perfect for each other. You will be able to resist doing things that may harm your relationship during this stage because your relationship has really become a top priority in your life.

Stage 9: The ‘Test Your Strength’ Stage

Eventually something big is going to happen that changes your relationship from blissful to struggle. It could be a having a kid, losing a job, experiencing a death close to home, or having someone interfering with your relationship. This stage can really weigh heavily on your feelings for each other if you let the stress get to you or handle the stress in completely different ways.
To get through this stage, you have to rely on your communication skills. Don’t distance yourself from each other. Instead, share your concerns, hear your partner’s concerns, and come together in a way that is beneficial for your future. This may take some compromise, but if you want your relationship to last the test of time, then you have to be willing to do it.

Stage 10: The ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ Stage

Once you make it through the rest of the stages of relationships intact, you will feel confident in your relationship and its future. In fact, breaking up won’t be an issue. You don’t have to get married, but you will be married in definition. You will most definitely face more issues that require strength on both your parts, but because you have gotten through it once before, you will have the ability to get through it again.
While this stage doesn’t take a lot of effort, it is important to remember to keep working through tough times and keep the communication, trust, and intimacy an important part of your relationship. If you stop working on your relationship at this point, you will head back to stage 6 and have to start all over again. But, as said, it won’t take a lot of effort and it will more than likely be natural for you to work on keeping your relationship healthy and happy. Enjoy it! Most people don’t make it through all the stages of relationships, so you should be proud of yourself.