The Love Cycle

Relationships.

Sometimes you go looking for someone to love, but sometimes love comes looking for you.

Dating. Whether or not you are looking for love, you always begin by talking to someone and getting to know that person. Even if you aren't completely interested at first, you go through a talking stage to open up to each other and break down the barriers set up from any previous relationships or notions about relationships. This is usually known as the dating stage, where you aren't exclusive but you are working your way towards commitment.



Commitment. You start to feel that the person you have been dating is the only person you want to be with. They make you happy and you feel like you don't want to see anyone else. You want to claim that person as officially yours and you make every effort to put their wants first. During this stage you become exclusive and you make the commitment to each other where no one else is involved.

Honeymoon stage. During the honeymoon stage, you feel like nothing could go wrong and you guys are happily together. Everything seems to be going smoothly and the relationship seems to perfect. As an item, both partners become more intimate with each other and share their lives together. This could be the time you begin living with each other or the beginning of a marriage where things seem like they just keep getting better and better. This happens until the relationship doesn't seem to be so perfect anymore.

Conflict. After the honeymoon stage, a couple may experience the difficulties of the relationship. Someone's true side may come out and there may be struggles between thoughts. The partners may begin disagreeing or butting heads. Not everyone is going to have the same view on everything, so the two may eventually realize that the person they fell for isn't the same as they used to be in the beginning of the relationship.

Break-Up or Proposal.There are usually two paths that relationships go through when entering conflict. Either the couple breaks up and parts ways or they compromise and find ways to fix the problems in their relationship. Ending the relationship and going different ways is always an option for those who do not feel happy and are dissatisfied with the relationship. Eventually, they will just try again and start over with someone new. However, if the couple chooses not to break up, then they usually try to make things work and compromise to make things better.

Although my relationship hasn't been at the same pace as this cycle, my relationship may have at one point touched each and every stage above. Every relationship is different, but I'd like to tell you my story. Tune in next week to hear all about my relationship and what I've been through.

Pictures:

http://www.hercampus.com/love/dating-hooking/more-friendship-less-relationship-youre-flirtationship
http://gagthat.com/tag/in-love/
http://www.womansday.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/2011/8/relationship-conflict-does-not-change-throughout-marriage-says-study/
http://www.getdomesticviolencehelp.com/domesticviolencecycle.html
http://www.agirlsworld.com/proposal-tips-for-boys-from-a-girl/