It’s not shared hobbies or amazing sex that make a relationship great—although those don’t hurt.
It’s how you and your partner fight, says Wendy Walsh, Ph.D., founder of relationship resource site AskALoveGuru.com.
“Conflict is normal,” Walsh says. If you can resolve spats before they turn into blowups, the friction can bring the two of you closer together rather than tear you apart.
Plus, sparring could save your life: A recent University of Michigan study finds that spouses who suppress their anger die earlier than those who argue regularly.
Here’s your plan to defuse any fight and get straight to the fun part: makeup sex.