In the most literal sense, a significant other is a person who means a great deal to you. They’re a central part of your life and they’re the ones you want to spend the rest of your life with. But wait. If they mean so much to you, then what is the role of a significant other in your life, exactly?
We hear the term “significant other” a lot and many people have integrated it without knowing what that role means. However, it’s very important to know because it will allow you to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy connections.
Whether your significant other is your boyfriend or girlfriend, long-term partner, or spouse, understanding their role in your life can help you both build something worthwhile.
Relationships are complicated because they require two different people to learn to coexist together, while also loving each other. Significant others play many important roles in our lives and today we will discuss some of the most non-negotiable ones.
The Role of a Significant Other:
Everything we will discuss from here on applies to significant others in general. If a relationship is to be healthy and long-lasting, both parties involved need to fulfill these roles in the life of the other. After all, relationships are reciprocal!
1. To Provide Support:
One of the most important roles of a significant other in your life is to provide support. Supportive partners are reliable, trustworthy, encouraging, and have your best interests at heart. This is key to building a good life with someone!
There are many different ways significant others can provide support every single day. Generally speaking, they just need to be there for you without question. Not just when you’re doing well, but also when you’re struggling with life and things aren’t going your way.
2. To Love You Unconditionally:
To love you exactly for you who you are is another important role of a significant other in your life. After all, this is the person who knows you the most. Your significant other must value you, appreciate you, and love you unconditionally. Additionally, they must be committed to the relationship.
Someone who truly loves you won’t limit their love based on whether or not you are a certain way. Unconditional love means they accept you fully, which contributes to your emotional and mental health and enables you to feel more secure in the relationship.
3. To Build a Life Together:
Helping you build a life together is a major role of a significant other. After all, that’s the main point of being together. Whatever that life may look like, you both need to be on the same page about it. You can’t carry the relationship on your own, so working together towards a common goal is a must.
In a happy and healthy relationship, one partner doesn’t carry the other. Instead, they walk together in the same direction. Planning a future together is not always easy, but it’s worth the effort and it’s what will allow you to feel more fulfilled.
4. To Challenge You and Help You Grow:
Though they love you unconditionally, it doesn’t mean they don’t get to challenge you. In fact, this is an essential role of a significant other in your life. You won’t always see eye to eye, but differences are healthy because they expose you to other perspectives.
A good significant other will challenge you to grow and become your best self. Additionally, they will inspire you to learn more not just about yourself and your values, but also about them. As a result, your relationship will be stronger and you’ll help each other be better people.
5. To Respect You and accept you as you are:
Last but not least, the role of a significant other in your life is to respect you. Love without respect is impossible, so you need to be with someone who respects who you are, your beliefs, and your boundaries. Respect is all about accepting your flaws and virtues, and understanding you’re an individual.
When someone respects you, they won’t try to turn you into something you’re not or make you feel less, whenever you disagree on something. Additionally, they won’t force you to change your emotional, physical, or sexual boundaries. Though significant others can challenge you and help you grow, they shouldn’t control you or try to try to change who you are or your identity.
Conclusion:
Finding your significant other is no easy task, so it’s important to know what you’re looking for. They are valuable people and they should make your life better and vice versa.
We hope today’s article helped you understand the role of a life partner so you’ll never settle for less. You deserve to have someone you can trust completely and rely on, through the highs, the lows, and the rock bottoms!