“A relationship is only as good as its parts.”

We have heard the quote from Aristotle that “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts“ but what about applying this to relationships? The parts or people within a relationship are the components of the relationship and the relationship is as good as its parts. Relationships are more than not likely to succeed if one of the parts is not as strong as the other part.  If you’ve ever been in a relationship where you were not pulling your weight, I would be willing to bet that your partner at some point made it clear that you were not. It would be safe to say that we have all been there at one time or another. When one of the individuals in the relationship is not in a good place in life then there may be frustration from the other person in the relationship. The stronger of the two may feel as if they are carrying the relationship or feel as though the same effort is not being put forth by both people. It could be for a number of reasons such as, one person not physically pulling their weight by helping with the household chores. It could also be related to financial inequity, everyone is not contributing to the kitty. What about efforts related to keeping the relationship fresh with dating ideas? If only one person is planning or suggesting things to do then the relationship could fizzle out. The relationship can certainly be a challenge when things are not balanced; balance is key for most things in life.

If you are in or have been in a successful relationship then this concept is probably not foreign to you. You cannot expect your partner to be in the exact same place as you but if the parts of the relationship stick together then it will just be a matter of time before it feels like both parts are on equal footing. If we are encouraging and supportive of our partners then there will be a good sum. If you are looking to begin a new relationship then look for someone that is heading in the same direction as you. Remember that a great relationship is mutually beneficial as each part can help the other part learn and grow as the relationship grows and becomes stronger year over year. Know that it is okay to want and expect more than what you’ve had before with the mindset that if each part continues to get better the sum will in turn be as great as its parts.