1. Start strong to stay together--Couples starting out need to realize that how they start their relationship can predict how they finish. They are making a long-term investment but don’t even know it. Eventually their relationship will rely on these early memories to get them through tough times later on. If you're in a new relationship, get to know your partner now by asking lots of questions.
2. It's OK to fight, but you have to be friends--69% of the time, couples fight about issues in the relationship that never get resolved, but that's OK. What matters is not solving the problems, but how they are discussed. That means even if you're in a disagreement, try to communicate with humor, affection, and acceptance. If things really get heated, take a 20-minute break--that's how much time you need to calm down.
3. The magic numbers are 5:1—The most stable relationships have a ratio of five positive interactions to every negative one. That 5:1 ratio is a key sign that a marriage will last, More negative interactions were more likely to lead to divorce.
4. Turn to each other--Couples who look to each other for support form stronger bonds than those who don't. Newlyweds who are still married six years after their wedding had turned towards each other 86% of the time. Those who were divorced six years later turned towards each other 33% of the time
5. Stay positive--It’s a choice to cherish your partner and if your partner really is the right person for you, you have to actively cherish your partner’s positive qualities and think how fortunate you are to have this person in your life. If both people do that with one another, then a relationship can last forever.
