Ask Gabby: Your guide to building a strong relationship

by GABBY CARRION

Staff Writer

Having a relationship between two people can be rewarding and fun. However, building the foundation of that relationship is super important to make sure your relationship lasts and that you completely trust each other.

By foundation, I mean trust, communication and being 100 percent yourself. It may be hard to do any of these if you have never had a relationship before, but this is your how-to guide to answer any questions you may have.

Trust. The main pillar in any relationship. You need to be able to confide in your partner and let them have a social life outside of your relationship. If you are hesitant to trust them at the beginning, the relationship will have issues very quickly. You need to have enough trust in them to say to yourself, “They chose to be in a relationship with me, and I need to take a breath.” You are hot stuff, and if they can’t see that then they’re not the one.

Communicate with them. If your significant other is doing something that is bothering you, it needs to be said. Whether it’s as simple as “chew with your mouth closed” or “I want you to spend more time with me,” communicating your feelings is super important. Another big part of communication is having a conversation with them about anything and everything. If you disagree on politics, music or even soda flavors, it’s important to hear them out. There is no problem with disagreeing with them, as you should have differences in your relationship, but be open to listening to their side as well. 

Another thing you can do to build a long relationship is to be yourself. I wasn’t myself in my first relationship, or even in my friendships, because I was scared of being judged or laughed at. We all have our insecurities and things we want to hide. It’s okay to be shy at first—aren’t we all? Learning to overcome these insecurities is a part of growing up and being proud of who you are. One of my best friends is completely, unapologetically herself in her current relationship and it makes me so happy to see her comfortable. 

We all have our insecurities and things we want to hide. It’s totally okay to be shy at first and hide. Learning to overcome these insecurities is a part of growing up and being proud to embrace who you are. One of my best friends is completely, unapologetically herself in her current relationship and it makes me so happy to see her so comfortable. 

These aren’t the only pillars of starting a strong relationship, but they are super important. Once you have the foundation built, the rest is easy and you can take your relationship to the next level. 

If you have any questions or need advice on relationships, friendships or just life in general, direct message @theblueandgraypress on Instagram and I will answer them in the next post!