The process of a relationship: from attraction to intimacy

A Map for the Relationship Journey

Meaningful relationships don’t just happen; they follow a natural developmental process that we can break down into six stages.

Knowing this map helps us understand where we are in our relationships and navigate their challenges more wisely.

• Stage 1. Attraction: It all begins with a spark of interest—be it physical, intellectual, or emotional. It’s the initial push that draws us toward another person.
• Stage 2. Connection: If the attraction holds, we move into the connection phase, where we begin to look for and find similarities and commonalities. This is the "Do you like that too?" stage.
• Stage 3. Power War: This is an inevitable and often difficult stage.

This is where individual differences emerge and each person tries, consciously or unconsciously, to make the relationship fit their own needs and expectations.

Many relationships stagnate or break down here.

• Stage 4. Stability: If the power war is resolved constructively, the relationship enters a phase of stability.

Differences are accepted, boundaries are negotiated, and a balance is found where both partners can be their true selves.

• Stage 5: Commitment. With stability as the foundation, commitment emerges.

This is the conscious decision to invest in the relationship for the long t