What are the elements of successful and loving relationships?

Personally, it would be in the quaity of the love, and that is a soul connection that is recognised intrinsically from the first moment the connection is made. How to develop and remain in love? Give love because in doing so love grows. Giving love is real and cannot be manufactured, therefore in giving love a space is created that allows love to flow freely between the two. Suffering is part of life. It is helpful to accept suffering in the self and of the other. All things pass. All is change.

Over and over in my current relationship, we are each involved in life and it's dramas in one form or another, and for us, allowing the anger, criticism, irritation, disappointments, etc space to be, and by accepting it (though not necessarly liking it at the time) means we are both confident to be ourselves in any given moment in the relationship, in our love, and that we know that those moments shall pass. Being in love, feeling young, being free with our emotions with each other by letting life flow through us, means that we are open to the constant changes. We have no holding on, yet consciously will be together for this lifetime.

Yes, the divorce rate is definately higher these days. I think it's because couples don't know each other as well as they thought. They don't know the total three dimensions of the other person. Sometimes, a person could be hiding another face and is not revealed until it's too late. More time needs to be spent with each other until couples know almost everything about each other. Trust is also a key factor to any marriage. One has to understand that the other person's motives. True, great love involves the willingless to sacrifice a life for another. Or, putting a person's life in front of the other.

In a loving relationship...

We are deeply in love

We encourage each other always

We talk about things

We laugh and play together

We plan for our futue

We compromise about differences

We have a fulfilling and quality sexual relationship

We are best friends

We grow spiritually, individually and together

We help each other with tasks

We have time together and apart

We trust each other

We help each other grow

We are interested in each others hobbies

We look forward to seeing each other

We enjoy recreational time together

We are considerate of each other

We act in ways that strengthen extended family ties

We resolve conflict quickly..i hope this helps....... j.o.p

couples must have and reciprocate all these positive qualities

HONESTY

SINCERITY

thoughtfulness

forgiving

having fun with each other and trusted friends

acceptance of how she or who he is without trying to change the person

sweetness

humility

FLEXIBILITY

openess

SIMPLICITY

GENEROSITY

understanding

sense of wit, wisdom and humour

sense of conservativeness in the outside but a hot wild sense of adventure and care when in private with the one you love

sensibility, frugal in right way

giving space to each other with trust and confidence

saying "i love you" as often or not just saying but showing it

respect

helpful

dedicated, committed to duties, responsibility & the relationship

reassure each other of such union they strongly believe to last for a lifetime and beyond..

that no matter what, their union & love & being together shall grow in time & surpass any challenge of time, distance, circumstances & changes in life and age

both couples must be filled with trust, faith, joy, optimism in life, hope and unconditional love!