Relationships are Works in Progress: What is the Definition of a “Successful Relationship?”

Successful relationships are works in progress. Ultimately, a successful relationship is one where both partners feel loved, supported and able to communicate their needs. The idea is to work toward these goals, improving as you go. While there are many variations of what makes a relationship successful, these are a few key aspects within a relationship that contribute to its overall success.

1. Commitment

One of the major factors that contributes to the success of a relationship is commitment. When entering a relationship, it is common to become exclusive. This means that looking outside of the relationship for other romantic relationships would be breaking the commitment you made to each other. This is not healthy for the relationship and can cause a loss of trust.

2. Communication

Though communication can be difficult, learning to communicate in an effective way is an important aspect in a successful relationship. Communication is often something that couples have to work at – it doesn’t often come naturally. Though it should not be expected that the ability to communicate well will be there from the beginning, it is important that you and your partner try to adapt to each other’s communication styles. The goal is to continue to grow.

3. Vulnerability

Being vulnerable with each other is necessary in a relationship. This means letting down your walls and allowing your partner to see the parts of you that are hard to love. Vulnerability is hard. These are not parts of ourselves we often share with others, but having vulnerable discussions with your partner can help you both feel closer to each other. 

4. Trust

Trust is a difficult yet essential factor in a successful relationship. Trusting your partner to help take care of the health of the relationship can be terrifying. The better you know your partner, the better you can discern if they are a trustworthy person. Trust encompasses all of the elements we discussed here. You must trust your partner to communicate their needs, to remain committed, and to be vulnerable with you.

There is not a single definition of a successful relationship, and what qualifies as “successful” may change based on the couple. However, these four elements create a strong foundation for a relationship. As long as both parties are working on these four elements and are committed to growing together, the relationship stands a decent chance at success.

Kaitlynn Toay is a senior

English major from

Edgeley, N.D.