While researching, I came across a study that examined couples with long lasting relationships. The research identified some factors that were believed to lead to the couple staying together so long.
One factor I found to be very interesting. The study found that couples that stayed together and remained in love and faithful to one another were blind to physical changes. As you well known, time can take toll on a person’s physical appearance. Weight gain, wrinkles, and hair loss are among the predators.
Couples who stay together say that their partner is beautiful. Believing that your partner is sexy and desirable (no matter what others may see) keeps you from longing for other attractive people.
The couples in the study say that they have no need to look at the physical appearance of others because their mate is attractive and desirable to them. The couples also note that their partner is just as attractive now as they were the first time that they meet. Some even found their partner more attractive.
I am not really sure that this is an area that you and your mate can work on to strengthen your relationship. I believe that part of the continued physical attractive comes from other areas that that the couples have succeeded in (such as emotional bonding and making one another happy).
I can look back now and realize that when I feel my husband and I are getting along and we have a close bond, he is more attractive to me. I find him much more desirable. When things are rocky and we are at odds with one another, he possibly seems less attractive.
So in this study I am thinking that perhaps the couples have stayed together and find each other attractive and desirable due to the happiness. I am not sure that the happiness comes from still finding one another attractive.
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