Relationships are hard, whether it’s your relationship with a family member, a friend, or a partner. In the case of romantic relationships, of course, many people experience problems. No matter what happens with your family, they’re still your family. If you fall out with a friend, there’s a chance you could work things out in the future. If things fall apart with somebody in a romantic sense, however, it can be hard to reclaim that spark.

The point is that friendship can be built or rebuilt over time but romantic relationships are different; you can’t force love. It either happens or it doesn’t. And if you start to feel those feelings fading as the result of arguments or problems, does that mean you should call it a day? Well, only you know the situation in your personal relationship. However, if you’re willing to keep working at it then here are some ways to really improve the nature of your relationship.

Always remember to communicate.

Communication really is key in any relationship but this is so important when it comes to sorting out issues with your partner. Even if you don’t speak to a family member enough, there’s always the chance for a reunion to rebuild those bonds. If you drift apart from your partner, however, it’s very hard to get things back to the way they were.

As mentioned earlier, romance is something that can fade without warning; the way to keep it strong, even after the “honeymoon” phase, is to work hard at it. Talk through issues with your partner even when it’s awkward or difficult to do so.

Of course, it’s not just about communicating with each other. Sometimes, a relationship can really benefit when you air your problems with a professional. Trying out couples counseling might help you and your partner if you struggle with opening up about issues in the relationship; having a therapist who’s trained in this subject and can mediate the discussion is often all it takes for two people to really get to the root of what troubles them in their relationship.

Compromise.

Living by yourself is great, isn’t it? You call the shots, and you answer to yourself. Of course, living on your own can also be a lonely existence. And people enter relationships, above all else, for the joy of companionship. But you can’t have it both ways.

With companionship comes sacrifice. You and your partner have to accept that you’re different people and little things might have to change if you want to prove that you love the other person. You might have to start putting the toilet seat down or smoking outside (you might even stop smoking altogether if you really want to make an important gesture to your loved one). Sacrifice is part of any relationship. You’re not a lone wolf anymore.

Accept the good and the bad.

Here’s a shocker: people aren’t perfect. And that includes you, believe it or not. It’s easy to admire somebody new from afar and wonder what it’d be like to be in a relationship with somebody else.

Would all or some of the problems you experience in your current relationship go away? Probably. Would new problems take their place? Absolutely. You need to be realistic and accept that the honeymoon phase won’t last forever. Everybody has flaws. The mark of a good relationship is the ability of two people to look past those flaws.

You have to accept the good and the bad. Whilst you and your partner should both work to improve on your flaws and not just stubbornly stick to your ways, you also shouldn’t call it a day at the first sign of trouble. If there’s an issue in the relationship then you need to confront it; that’s been a recurring theme throughout this article and it’s the secret to a happy romantic relationship. When couples fall apart, it’s usually because they hide from conflict. Accept that you and your partner are flawed and you can start to work through the problems.