If your partner is taking on a new challenge or trying to solve a problem or fix something that’s broken, do you complain about their success and pace or do you offer encouragement and act as a cheerleader? 

Improve your partner’s chance of success by giving them space and positive encouragement. You should view yourselves as a team, not as rivals.

If you have a set way of looking at the world or doing things that are 180-degrees different from your partner’s, don’t nag them to change how they do things; respect the differences that exist and let yourself off the hook for being the “expert” in everything. 

If a partner needs to work late, do you threaten them that they’d better be back on time, or that they’d better be telling the truth about their plans? 

Learning to trust your partner’s commitment can ease a relationship’s path. 

If your partner forgets to pick up groceries on the way home from work or forgets to set the alarm on a Monday morning, do you tend to insult or belittle them? 

Learn to accept the imperfection of others, as you expect others to accept in yourself.

When you want to convince your partner to do something your way, do you try to bribe them with promises of giving in to their requests later? 

Healthy adult relationships don’t function well when disagreements feel more like payoffs than negotiations or mediations.