All relationships require a bit of work now and again. Unfortunately, the longer you have been with your significant other, the easier it is for small frustrations to become huge issues. When these problems are never touched upon, they can grow into concerns that can tear apart the relationship. One of the best ways to keep your connection to your partner strong is by addressing issues as soon as you recognize them and working together to solve any disagreements. There are a number of different problems you might encounter as you and your partner grow together. Look over these common relationship problems and discover what you need to do to break the cycle.

Silent Expectations

Expectations are a huge source of disappointment for people. While there is nothing wrong with holding yourself to a certain standard, there are countless problems with making assumptions about someone else. How another person behaves in a given situation is solely up to that individual. By assuming anyone, including your partner, is going to adhere to your expectations, you are creating a scenario in which you will be incredibly unhappy most of the time. What’s worse, you may not be informing your significant other of your views in advance.

More often than not, the expectations people carry of their significant others are silent. This means your partner might not have the first idea that you expect him or her to behave or react in a particular way. To avoid pointless fights over imagined problems, be open and honest about your emotions. Instead of putting an expectation on your partner, have a discussion about why you feel the way you do and work together to arrive at a solution that’s best for both of you.

Different Perspectives

The longer you’re with someone, the easier it is to feel like you are on the same page about every single topic. When you are in a group setting and your partner disagrees with your perspective, you might take it personally. In order for any relationship to grow, it is important to recognize areas in which you disagree and accept that you have different opinions on the matter. This begins by not taking disagreements personally. Understand your partner’s point of view is not a reflection of your relationship or a blow to the bond you share.

Of course, there are viewpoints that can cause serious concern in a relationship. While politics and religion should not dictate who you love, you might have very strong feelings about a certain political candidate or religious belief. When your partner has the opposite view, you need to think about whether this is something you can look beyond. If it is an issue, then you need to address the problem with your partner and see if there is any practical solution.

The Past Dictates the Future

Previous relationships often dictate how a person responds in a current romantic partnership. While you don’t have control over your past, you definitely can take charge of how you react in the present. Be open with your partner about emotional triggers or any particularly bad scenarios that took place with your previous significant other. By having a discussion about your past relationships, you will both have an easier time being more sensitive to the needs of the other and spend less time blaming your past for current reactions.

There are no tried-and-true methods for making a relationship work. Addressing common relationship problems is a good way to get started, but you may not always have the luxury of knowing an issue is on the horizon. As long as you and your significant other are working as a team to solve problems and strengthen the bond you share, you will have an easy time getting through the snags and finding a balance that works for the both of you.