The Friendship Foundation

Gottman's research points to a clear pattern: lasting relationship satisfaction rests far more on the friendship between partners than on romance alone. Do you know your partner's current worries? Their evolving dreams?

Romantic relationships that last are built on deep friendship — the kind where you actually enjoy each other's company, not just tolerate it. Date nights help, but they're band-aids if the underlying friendship has eroded. You need to become genuinely curious about your partner again.