Media and society I’d say play a huge part in setting unrealistic expectations and creating an inflated sense that relationships should be a near universal goal or standard.
Of course we play our own part in things too when we simply go with that we are told instead of finding what works for us. Through much of han history relationships have been a matter of survival. To survive or thrive one had a need of a partner and question lien wether they wanted one or wether those two people were even very good partners were often secondary. At its core relationships have often been quietly transactional or of necessity/convenience. Society and biology drive us to reproduce generally- to grow the population, and relationships at one level or another are a pillar of that drive to grow a population.
Changes in the modern world mitigate many of the factors that underpin the need for relationships. They still have a social component and can be treated as status symbols- “virgin” “spinster” “forever alone” these sorts of things are classic and modern insults and pervasive in society. Concepts that purpose comes from relationships and reproduction, that being without them implies someone is fundamentally lacking- you’re undesirable or irresponsible etc. That other peoples appreciation of our partners validates us or our ability to find a “quality” partner is a reflection of our value. these stigmas can drive us as much as the concepts that we are missing out on life or could be having more fun by being in a relationship. The true irony has always been that if you aren’t ok alone you probably shouldn’t be in a relationship. If you don’t enjoy your own company and can’t make life work by yourself- adding someone won’t fix that, it may just mask it.
The underlying lie is that relationships “complete us” vs. Relationships can enhance us. A good relationship is a wonderful thing. It is whatever works between those involved that allows them to be happy and betters their lives. Of course we can say that many things might enhance life. Owning a boat, traveling to a far off country etc. that said, those who do not or cannot are not necessarily at a great disadvantage in life and for many people those things wouldn’t appreciably make life any better. So do you. Take life as it comes and learn to accept reality as it is. We spend a lot of time building things up and hyping them up that objectively aren’t such a big deal, but that’s life. You usually have to work much harder at things than they are objectively worth.
Be happy and comfortable with yourself as an independent, emotionally healthy person before you get a significant other.
Relationships generally work better if you truly know yourself and have done some work to be your own person.
No, it actually does suck Imo.
Friends and girlfriends are different, and that's demonstrated by what you're like with both parties.
There are some things you'll never tell your bros, that you'll never tell your girl, because there's some things that women simply won't get their heads around and there's some things you'll never tell your bros because some things you won't want to have jokes made about.
You won't get the same release of endorphins from a hug from your bros that you would with your girl too, and at some point you'll want your bro to let go, but with your girl you can lie there all day and it won't get weird.
Of course we play our own part in things too when we simply go with that we are told instead of finding what works for us. Through much of han history relationships have been a matter of survival. To survive or thrive one had a need of a partner and question lien wether they wanted one or wether those two people were even very good partners were often secondary. At its core relationships have often been quietly transactional or of necessity/convenience. Society and biology drive us to reproduce generally- to grow the population, and relationships at one level or another are a pillar of that drive to grow a population.
Relationships generally work better if you truly know yourself and have done some work to be your own person.
Friends and girlfriends are different, and that's demonstrated by what you're like with both parties.
There are some things you'll never tell your bros, that you'll never tell your girl, because there's some things that women simply won't get their heads around and there's some things you'll never tell your bros because some things you won't want to have jokes made about.
You won't get the same release of endorphins from a hug from your bros that you would with your girl too, and at some point you'll want your bro to let go, but with your girl you can lie there all day and it won't get weird.