There is a lot of relationship advice out there, but the only one you need is being exemplified by our favorite Hollywood couple Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell. The two melt our hearts all the time by posting extremely adorable pictures on Instagram and also have sometimes offered solid advise pertaining to maintaining a healthy and thriving relationship.
So, how does this couple, who met all the way back in 2007 and got married years later in 2013, and now have spent 12 happy years with each other, manage to keep the happiness in the relationship going after all this time? Here are some insights.
Fighting Properly
The credit for instilling this principle in their relationship goes entirely to Dax as it was his proposition that no one should be allowed to exit the room if the two are in the middle of an argument. Apparently, during their first year as a couple, Bell was in the habit of leaving the room in a dramatic manner whenever the two would engage in an argument, and Dax ultimately had to point it out to her that such actions were toxic for their relationship.
According to Dax, any relationship is built on mutual respect, and a major part of giving respect is to not leave unannounced, especially in the middle of a conversation even if it is essentially a fight. Thankfully, as per Bell, it was Dax’s strong sense of ethics as well as high standards which ultimately led her to stop walking out of fights, as Dax clarified he could not tolerate that for the rest of his life simply because he has a lot of self-respect.
Privilege And Vulnerability
It is certainly a gift to have a loving partner by your side as you go through the many ordeals of life, and Bell recommends that we recognize that privilege if we have it because not everyone is as blessed.
Another important factor to any healthy relationship pertains to communication, and Bell highlighted in a post on Instagram that the two of them also like to be vulnerable with each other when they communicate. According to her, this tactic improves the level of intimacy and the connection the two share with each other.
For example, if the two are engaged in an argument about something very trivial, however, things start to heat up, Bell could feel like this fight would turn into a big one and ultimately cause the two of them to break up. Instead of bottling up this emotion (like most of us do), she would say it out loud to let Dax know that she is feeling vulnerable at this point of the argument.
Respecting Individual Space
You can only love another person when you love your own self, and self-love only comes through spending some quality time alone. While it is generally believed that loving couples don’t spend a lot of time away from each other, according to Bell it is actually a very healthy practice to give each other space to grow and explore what interests you individually.