The Fractured Relationship - Can You Still Find a Way?

It can be hard to see the path ahead when a relationship hits a seemingly unsolvable problem. When you know in your heart of hearts that you still care for them, but something has broken and it seems beyond repair. It's a heartbreaking position to be in and its natural to feel hopeless. But there is still chance, and it might just be a matter of finding the way to it.

The first thing you need to think about is what has changed in the relationship since it began. It's normal for two people to drift away from each other over time, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the feelings are gone. People can become wrapped up in small grievances until the pattern of conflict becomes ingrained enough to steer away from each other. Old habits of arguments and animosity can be tragically hard to break.

So instead of dwelling on what might be, take a look at what potential may still be possible instead. Ruts can form in any relationship, so don't necessarily assume that the problem has no resolution. It might be a sign of stagnation and lack of effort on both sides, but it can be reinvigorated if the two parties are willing to make the effort.

Talking openly and honestly with your partner can be a good way to open up the space for further conversations. Be direct, reasonable and focused on a better future. While it can be easy to slip crowd resolution into a litany of complaints and nagging, this is often counterproductive. Speak about what is broken, verbally or mentally, and agree on ways to repair it.

Sitting down and thinking about the future can be a helpful exercise too. What could the relationship become if you could move through these taxing times? Thinking of a solution together can help you to reconnect and overlook the bumps in the road. Try to discuss and redefine how your relationship might work, while taking into account the new pressures of life around you. It's even worth considering beginning afresh in some sense and look at what needs to be addressed before anything else happens between the two of you.

Underneath it all though, hope is never far away. No matter how tough the times have been, it's important to remember who you both are and why you started the relationship in the first place. Poor decisions, past traumas or even the passing of time can cast long shadows and make it seem like it can't be repaired. But understanding and forgiveness can be just as powerful a tool as communication.

It can be hard to find the courage to confront these problems head-on but it will be worth it if you have the determination to keep going and rebuild. That understanding that you and your partner have can be useful in untangling these knotty issues and making the whole relationship stronger in the end. Give your relationship the chance it deserves by taking the time to understand and mend what has been damaged. After all, both of you deserve happiness and it will be worth it at the end.