6. Be able to give all of your attention.
Giving your partner 100 per cent of your attention when they want to talk to you is one of the most bonding and powerful things you can do. Put down the remote control or whatever you're reading, face your partner, and say, "What would you like to talk about?" It will make your partner feel loved and important.
(Click here to plan a perfect evening of intimacy.)
7. Be demonstrative.
Couples who often touch and hold each other often have fewer arguments, enjoy life more, and stay healthier. Touching is one of the deepest forms of communication.
8. Be trustworthy.
Never give your partner any reason to doubt your loyalty or devotion. Whenever you are away from each other, check in regularly to let your partner know you're okay.
9. Be available.
If your partner has a problem, be the one they call first. Commitment means that you can count on your partner to be there for you when you need them.
10. Be proactive.
Couples who take a relationship inventory and see what they have as well as what it is they might need in the future are much better prepared for difficulty and have longer lasting, more successful relationships.
Read more:
• How has your parents' relationships affected you?
• 10 ways to make your love unforgettable
• Secrets to a successful marriage
• Quiz: Are you committed to your relationship?
Excerpted from Emotional Fitness for Couples by Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D. Copyright 2005 by Barton Goldsmith. Excerpted with permission by New Harbinger Publications. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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