How to Stop Fighting in a Relationship and Live Happily

If you believe that happy couples never fight, you’re mistaken.

Every relationship faces conflicts, whether it’s between friends, coworkers, or family members. It’s a normal part of any healthy relationship.

No matter how well you get along with your partner, disagreements can arise over values, opinions, or other matters.

Eventually, you may find yourselves in an argument, even if you try to avoid it. It may leave you wondering how to stop fighting in a relationship.

We have shared tips with many couples who struggle with frequent arguments and found an 80% success rate. After implementing these tips, they experienced fewer conflicts.

So, how to stop fighting in a relationship? Here are some proven strategies.

Small Fights can be Beneficial

Let us share some reasons why a bit of conflict in a relationship is considered healthy:

• It provides insights into the other person’s perspective.
• It helps practice active listening and focus on problem-solving.
• It allows you to express your emotions, leading to better communication and a sense of relief.
• It encourages self-reflection, contributing to personal growth.
• It can strengthen relationships with those around you.

Note that we are referring to casual small fights. Intense conflicts generally do not have any benefits.

Possible Reasons for Relationship Fights

When it comes to reasons for fights in a relationship, there can be plenty. Here are a few, and if you can relate to any of them, rest assured, your relationship is not unusual:

• Money
• Relatives/Friends
• Dominance or Controlling Habits
• Not enough attention or affection
• Jealousy
• Infidelity
• Responsibilities

However, don’t worry when you and your partner have conflicts. Worry when there are no disagreements, as that may indicate underlying issues.

Now, let’s explore some solutions you can adopt into your daily lives to reduce or avoid frequent fights.

How to Stop Fighting in a Relationship

Before delving into solutions, remember that partners often disagree on many things. However, it’s within your control to prevent disagreements from turning into arguments.

Now, let’s continue below for helpful tips to reduce frequent fights.

1. Communicate Effectively, Listen Attentively

Whenever you find yourselves in frequent arguments and want to break the cycle, take a moment to identify the issue and communicate calmly.

Ask questions with empathy and listen attentively without feeling the need to respond immediately.

The goal is to understand, not to prove them wrong.

This approach can help both of you find common ground more easily.

Listen attentively without overthinking or trying to manipulate their opinions. Sometimes, you can use examples to clarify points.

Avoid the desire to always prove yourself right. Instead, focus on listening, analyzing, and understanding.

2. Take a Break in Heated Arguments

Sometimes arguments become so heated that effective communication becomes nearly impossible. If you notice any of the following signs, consider taking a break:

• Withholding the truth
• Raising your voice
• Constantly interrupting your partner
• Becoming silent
• Expressing no compassion in your words

The same applies to your partner. If you observe any of these behaviors, suggest taking a break and revisiting the conversation later.

This break can be for a few minutes or hours, but it’s important not to let a disagreement linger for more than 24 hours.

3. Use ‘I’, instead of ‘You‘

When you accuse someone, even a simple discussion can turn into a heated argument. 

Take yourself as an example. As soon as somebody blames you for something, your defensive walls come up, and instead of understanding what the other is feeling, you shift your focus to how to defend yourself.

As a result, we begin to feel that the other person has intentionally hurt us. Instead of understanding their message, we only dwell on why they hurt us. That is where the real problem begins.

When conversations are centered around ‘I,‘ it indicates clear communication about how a specific behavior or your partner is impacting you.

It will open up more paths of conversation and help you communicate in a crystal-clear manner.

4. Use Humor Frequently

Introducing humor during heated arguments can be surprisingly beneficial. When your partner becomes really angry, try injecting a lighthearted joke.

It can help relieve tension and give your partner a moment to cool off. However, it’s important not to use humor to dismiss your partner’s needs or requests.

Laughter is often described as the best medicine. It has the power to diffuse tense situations and foster mutual understanding.

By sharing moments of laughter, you can create a more positive atmosphere and deepen your connection with each other.

5. Show Empathy towards your Partner

Empathy, in simple terms, means putting yourself in your partner’s shoes and trying to understand their feelings, emotions, and perspectives.

It’s a crucial aspect of any relationship, promoting intimacy, understanding, and trust.

When your partner feels emotionally secure with you, you’ll notice a positive change in their attitude towards you.

So, next time, try to consider their perspective and prioritize understanding over blame. With empathy, even disagreements are less likely to turn into full-blown fights.

You should also be aware of these signs of a toxic relationship.

6. Let Go of the Past

You might have noticed that your partner did something hurtful in the past and apologized repeatedly for it.

Yet, during heated arguments, you find yourself bringing up the same issue over and over again because you can’t seem to forget it.

Listen, if the matter has been resolved and forgiven, it’s unhealthy to keep revisiting it. It creates an unhealthy cycle and eventually leads your partner to hesitate sharing things with you.

Staying in the present allows you to focus on current feelings and steer conversations away from confusion.

If you’ve forgiven your partner, promise never to bring it up again.

You might also find these tips on how to compliment a girl helpful.

7. Choose the Right Time and Place for Communication

Many couples have the habit of nagging each other incessantly, regardless of the time or place. They don’t consider who they are with, where they are, or what they are doing. They simply explode.

However, this approach is never constructive. Your partner won’t appreciate being criticized in public.

Remember, a relationship is between two people and should remain private. There’s no need for others to know what’s going on between you.

Find a safe, quiet place to express your feelings and address issues together. The presence of a third person only adds unnecessary pressure.

Keep your discussions private, and you’ll find greater happiness together.

8. Solicit, Don’t Fuss

When in a relationship, having expectations and hoping for the fulfillment of those beliefs is entirely normal. However, if expectations are not met, expressing such feelings can often come across as complaints.

Consider the following example:

You requested your partner to bring you pasta on their way over, but they forgot your preference and brought white sauce instead of the red sauce you like.

In typical situations, your response might be, ‘Why don’t you remember what I like?’ or ‘You don’t even know my preferences?’ This type of communication is a primary source of distress in relationships.

These are minor issues and shouldn’t be causing a fuss.

To prevent misunderstandings, be specific about your needs and communicate them clearly.

Equally important is to ask if there’s anything your partner would like you to change. This paves the way for a healthy and open relationship.

9. If You Want It, Ask For It

It’s a scientific fact: Men are not mind readers, and neither are women.

You can’t expect your partner to magically know what you want or wish for.

The hallmark of a healthy relationship is clear communication. If you want something, ask for it. You might fear that your needs will be unmet or ignored if you ask directly.

However, you won’t know their reaction until you ask. So, open up. Paint a clear picture of your expectations. The clearer you are, the better understanding you’ll foster between you two.

What to talk about on the first date? Click here to find out.

10. Maintaining Personal Space

When you’ve been together for a long time, it’s easy to forget about spending time apart and pursuing your individual interests.

However, taking some time away from each other can be beneficial. It gives you both new experiences to share and brings fresh stories to the table.

Having personal space can work wonders, especially if you’ve been fighting frequently.

It’s like having the same dinner every night. So, sometimes, a change is refreshing.

Moreover, spending time apart helps you appreciate each other more and strengthens your bond. It’s a win-win situation.

Think of your personal time as a magical refresh button for your relationship.

11. Leave Your Ego at the Door

You may have noticed that ego often serves as the root cause of major relationship breakdowns. Both parties desire to stay together, yet neither wants to yield first.

Remember this simple rule: always treat others the way you wish to be treated. No one can or will resolve your personal conflicts for you. So, differentiate between a healthy ego and a toxic one.

Holding a grudge against the one you love will take you nowhere. Instead, your ego will not let you reconcile with your loved ones.

12. It’s Both of You Against the Problem

You are meant to be together, no matter what.

Whenever you face a problem, and conflicts arise due to the same, it seems natural to fight about it and turn it into something big.

However, you have to avoid it. Do not let the problem become such a big obstacle that it ruins everything you both have.

At the back of your head, you have to remember that the problem is not bigger than your relationship.

So, work together to solve the issue and strengthen your bond.

These tips might help strengthen your relationship with your boyfriend.

13. Apologize for Your Mistakes

If you have made a mistake, whether intentional or unintentional, apologize for it without hesitation.

Apologizing to your better half doesn’t diminish you. It shows respect and maturity.

After apologizing, assure your partner that you won’t repeat the same mistake again.

For instance, if your partner catches you talking to someone else, acknowledge your mistake instead of turning it into an argument.

Apologize sincerely and reassure your partner that it won’t happen again.

Click here to learn how to treat her like a queen.

Conclusion

A happy couple isn’t one that rarely fights but one that knows how to resolve fights in a healthy and timely manner.

You are not alone in facing unnecessary fights. More than 95% of couples encounter similar issues. However, every problem has a solution.

The ironic part is that we often know the solution but fail to implement it, which is a primary cause of relationship conflicts.

So, if you want to reduce fighting and live happily together, it’s essential to actively work on it by following the mentioned tips.

If you do so, you’ll gradually notice improvements in your relationship, with fewer and fewer fights.

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FAQs

So, how to stop fighting in a relationship and live happily? We are sure you know the answer now.

If you still have doubts, feel free to ask us in the comment section. We’re here to help.

Also, share your thoughts on whether you agree or disagree with the tips above.