17 secrets to a successful relationship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak4j5pVHDGg

This video from The School of Life presents a counter-intuitive checklist of 17 "secrets" to building and maintaining a successful, long-term relationship. The core philosophy is to move away from idealistic expectations toward a more grounded, realistic approach that acknowledges human imperfection.

Key Principles for Relationships:

Embrace Imperfection: Acknowledge from the start that both partners are "mad," distorted by their pasts, and prone to irrationality

Practical Humility: Remove pride, make jokes about your own foolishness, and make apologies frequent and low-cost

Authentic Communication: Rather than stifling emotion, explore disappointments and moderate anger safely. Use "I feel" statements instead of categorical insults to describe a partner's traits.
Manage Expectations: Accept that love will suffer during phases like raising children, and recognize that a partner cannot save you from your own internal disturbances.
Self-Responsibility: Be happy in yourself, don't project your own life crises onto the relationship, and consider therapy.
Stay by Choice: Remain in the relationship out of choice rather than desperation, and be prepared (even if reluctant) to leave if necessary.

Other advice includes maintaining a sense of gratitude, nurturing physical intimacy, handling external crushes gently , and understanding attachment theory.

Are these really secrets?

We practice all of them, right?

Do you agree with how to handle "external" crushes?