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When it comes to relationships, how realistic are your expectations? Are you a believer in perfect unions or do you keep it real with yourself? Your answer might determine how you conduct yourself when it comes to your love life. Yes it’s great to have moral standards and convictions, but ultimately there are certain realities you definitely need to consider.

Here are a few.

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Fairy tales are great fiction

You can have your happily ever after so long as you realize it doesn’t always come with a Prince Charming. Everyone has their own flaws and won’t come in a perfect package.

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There are things you can’t change

Hate to break it to you but there will be things you don’t like about your love, but unfortunately won’t be able to change–and vice versa. Remember the whole nobody is perfect thing? That applies here too.

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We all come from somewhere

While it is important to learn about someone’s past for the sake of getting to know them better, try not to judge them too much considering you’re now in the present. Unless they’re repeating old ways, all of us come from previous experiences.

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You can’t get rid of family

Yes, family can give unwanted opinions and put their nose in business that isn’t theirs, but they’re still family. Even if you don’t like your partner’s relatives, keep things cordial as they aren’t going anywhere.

Read How to Keep Your Family Out of Your Relationship

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We all have emotions

They say we hurt the ones we love the most which is pretty sad. Even if the person you’re with understands how you act, that doesn’t give you the right to treat them badly–or make them feel horrible.

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There’s no such thing as a mind reader

You better call the Psychic Friends Network if they’re still in business for that.

There’s no such thing as a mind reader.

Stop trying to get your partner to understand your feelings without verbalizing them.

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Sex comes and goes

Please don’t freak out if you aren’t doing it like rabbits. Every relationship goes through different experiences that will place a bigger priority on things other than sex from time to time. Children, for example, can make your sex life change. (You get it in when you can.) There will be times when you’re all over each other and a period when you connect in a different way.

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People aren’t bad if they don’t behave like you

Who the heck died and made you the mold for everyone to follow? Please don’t think your perfect or this ideal standard people need to follow. It’s okay if their opinions and habits differ.

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Friendship is okay

It’s okay if things aren’t super romantic 24/7. Yes, you need to keep the flames burning but some of the most successful relationships are ones where there’s a strong friendship.

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Comparing isn’t productive

Keep talking about how other people act in their relationship and see if you don’t find yourself back on the market. Let others live their own lives and focus on your relationship. If something’s not working, don’t compare, work to make it better.

Read Common Relationship Killers

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Little acts go a long way

There are so many ways to display your affection and love that it doesn’t always need to be over the top. Sometimes all a person needs is a small act of kindness that lets them you know care. Make sure you take care of the small things as they often times get overlooked.