Lilly's Love Tips by Lilly St. Thomas

Being “one” with yourself
when you’re “two.”

Even in the most romantic, head-over-heels kind of relationships, it’s absolutely essential to maintain a strong sense of yourself. Balance is central to a healthy relationship, yet sometimes we become so close and so anxious to please the one we love that we forget our personal needs and wants.

Make Time for Yourself
No matter how in love you are, you can still have you own life. Remember to fill your time doing things you enjoy. Get in your regular workouts. Take an art, dance or cooking class. Join a club. Make a standing date with your girlfriends. If your relationship is strong and secure, you and your partner can handle a few hours apart. You might even benefit from it.

It's OK to Be Different
To some extent, different interests are healthy in a relationship. Do you have a love for film while he has a love for football? You’re certainly not expected to love all your partner’s interests when you go into a relationship, but you can learn about them if you want to. You probably fell in love with each other partly because of the differences you each brought to the table.

Feel Free to Set Expectations
It’s ALWAYS a good idea to make some expectations clear in the relationship. Don’t worry that you might lose someone simply for speaking your mind. If they’re really the right one, they’ll do what it takes to keep you happy. For instance, if you expect that your partner takes care of garbage if you take care of the laundry, then make it clear. A relationship is two-way street.

The more you respect yourself, the more your partner will, too. That’s why it’s so important to keep your independence in a relationship, as well as a strong sense of yourself.