Tips for Surviving and Improving Long Distance Relationships

How Do Long Distance Relationships Work?

1. When the person is known to you – the first thing, as mentioned a little earlier is that both need to trust each other implicitly. There is no scope for the slightest of doubts in long distance relationships or they will self-destroy themselves. The relationship would stay alive and be nourished by constant communication and common plans and goals. Fidelity, which is another face of trust, is paramount.
2. When the person is not initially known to you – when you get to know the person strictly through an intermediary method –the relationship grows and is maintained in the hope of meeting the person sometime. Here, you grow fonder and fonder of this person as it becomes obvious that you share your thoughts, your principles and philosophy of life. In other words, you fall in love with the mind of the person first – and then the person.

How Can You Promote And Sustain Long Distance Relationships?

The Dos

1. Do communicate regularly – communication is the most crucial input in any relationship. With the long distance relationship it is life itself. Without regular communication there is no link; and when there is no link, the relationship fades away. Therefore, you would need to establish a reliable channel for communication. This could be email, chatting, VOIP phone and even letters (snail mail). Whatever it is, it should be easily accessible and regular.
2. Share emotions and life’s day-to-day joys and sorrows – communication would be dry and useless in promoting and sustaining a relationship unless it gives some insight into the other person’s persona. Hence, in order to have a rewarding interaction, you would need to learn to share your feelings, your aspirations, your plans, your pains, your disappointments – everything you feel – with the other person. This would create a powerful emotional and mental link and would feed the wish to meet the other person.
3. Plan to meet – the sweet anticipation of meeting the person who is sow ell tuned with your mind and soul is exquisite. Even if you knew the person and you were separated by certain circumstances – it is still extremely engaging to look forward to the time when you reunite yourselves. This would keep the fire of the relationship smoldering and alive.
4. Spice it up – while corresponding/ communicating in whatever way you do, learn to spice up the relationship by pleasantly surprising your partner with a gift or a special song or something equally sentimental sent over email or post. Show you care.
5. Make plans for a future together – there is nothing than can feed a relationship better than common plans for the future. Marriage, live-in relationships – whatever is your choice – when you plan or a future together you re committing yourself and this commitment is often fulfilled.

The Don’ts

1. Never betray trust – the long distance relationship is nothing without mutual trust. Once you betray that trust there is nothing left that tie you two together. Even if the other one is true to you, you would still at the back of your mind think they did not (just the way you did not) and this would kill the relationship slowly, yet steadily. You need to be true, completely and totally to your partner.
2. Do not lie about your past or present – it is often very tempting to inflate your status in terms of money, job, height, looks, etc. in the hope that you are making a better impression. However, in realty you are making the other person admire another person – the one you are projecting and not you. Don’t you want the other person love you for yourself? How can you expect that to happen if you build a fake façade?
3. Do not postpone expressing your feelings – if you feel that you love this person dearly and you wish to know him or her better, express yourself as soon as you discover the affinity. Of course, do not scare the person away with sudden declarations of love – but do indicate that you would be happy to see this relationship develop further.