If you can get your relationships needs met, the relationship has a better chance of being long and happy. Not having your needs met is one of the biggest reasons relationships don't work out. It's especially important to have your relationships needs met to stay happy and stay together.
The surefire way to get your needs met in a relationship is by making sure the other person knows just what those needs are. You can't read minds, and you shouldn't expert your partner to be able to read minds either. He or she wants to make sure your relationships needs are met, so tell them what they are.
At the same time, encourage your partner to tell you the needs he or she feels are important. You might be surprised to learn, if you've never had this conversation before, how different your needs might be.
You might feel the need for you partner to tell you he loves you often, so may you do that for him. He no doubt enjoys that, but maybe what he really needs is for you to do quick considerate things to make him feel special. Some people like to be told, and some people like to be shown.
Simply having a discussion about your relationships needs can strengthen the relationship and make it easier for you to keep each other happy. If you're uncomfortable having such a frank discussion, you should do it anyway. Telling each other your needs is better than hinting or expecting them to be psychic.
You may really need your partner to be more helpful to you. But when it's time to clean or wash dishes you do them alone, yet again. And instead of simply asking for help or letting him know that it would mean a lot to you if he would do them sometimes or do them with you. But instead you get angry.
You might huff around while you're doing them, slam a cabinet, or act otherwise out. This is passive aggressive behavior. You're trying to manipulate him into helping you by acting that way. It's much better and healthier to simply ask for help.
Passive aggressive behavior is common in relationships, and it's a worsening cycle because it doesn't work. If he does take your hint, it's only after you've acted upon being angry and resentful. So his doing the dishes might be only to keep you from acting that way.
If you ask for help and explain that it makes you feel good when he wants to help you, then he's coming at the task from a place of love and helpfulness. He doesn't feel a sense guilt into doing it, so it's better for everyone.
This applies to things like showing affection, respecting each others feelings, and every aspect of your relationship. When you want something, ask for it, and be prepared to give your partner what he or she asks for to make sure all your relationships needs are met.
