If you’ve been in a relationship for a while, you might be wondering if you’re as happy as other couples.

Every couple does it a little bit differently, so judging your relationship against someone else’s isn’t necessarily a good indication of how happy you both are. That being said, there are universal traits that all happy couples tend to share.

In this post, we’re going to talk about some of the traits of a happy couple in more detail so you can figure out if you’re as happy as you could be. Read on and you’ll be able to make important decisions about the future with your significant other.

1. You Like Talking to Each Other

Communication is the foundation of most enduring marriages. If you feel comfortable talking to your spouse about anything and everything, whether it’s your bad day at work or something your spouse did that bothered you, then you’ll usually be on the same page in your relationship.

The old adage that your significant other should be your best friend might sound a bit tacky and played out, but it rings true in most situations. You have to enjoy spending time with one another to have a truly happy marriage, even after you’ve been together for 10, 20, 30, or 50 years.

2. Have Separate Lives

Being able to spend an inordinate amount of time with another person is what successful relationships are based on, but so is having separate lives. You should have friends in common and friends that you go off and spend time with away from your spouse.

When you spend every waking moment together, it could have a strengthening effect, but could just as easily go the opposite direction. Having things that are “your own” is an important aspect of relationships.

3. Common Goals

Part of strong communication in a relationship is relating your goals to each other. Respectively, what do you want to get out of your relationship? Is it marriage, kids, traveling, or something more unorthodox?

If you want to go the distance, then you’ll have to be on the same page with big life goals. Trying to conceive (TTC), for instance, isn’t something you can differ on. Go here to see some TTC tips for couples.

4. Managing Stress and Conflict

Every couple has moments of stress and conflict – it would be impossible not to in a long-term relationship. Being able to manage this stress and diffuse conflict is a major key to relationship success. To do this, you need to have empathy for one another.

Being able to understand each other’s point of view, even when you’re mad at each other, is important in making sure that conflicts don’t drag on and become grudges. If you hold a grudge against your spouse, you might need to start looking for family therapists.

Be the Happy Couple You Were Always Destined to Be

Now that you know what a happy couple looks like, you can take a good hard look at your relationship and see if it’s as successful as you thought it was. Adjusting on the fly and addressing your issues can help you stay happy and in love for a long time.

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