I agree with this. I think the reason why so many western marriages fail is because people have so many unresolved issues/trauma/undiagnosed illnesses that they don’t fully understand and they go into a relationship expecting that it’s going to “fix” them. This is a lot of pressure to put on another human being. Having a partner that supports you is great, but they’re not meant to fix everything.
As for love/relationships, I’m with @J.L.O on saying that I’m glad I found someone way before the dating scene was reduced to swiping left and posting their entire lives on Tik Tok/Instagram. I think most people don’t actually know what love is. They THINK they do, but they don’t. Being in a relationship, especially a marriage, is a commitment. It’s a CHOICE you make and it’s not based on just feeling. Yes, the good feelings need to be there too but people change over the years and so do feelings. The butterflies aren’t going to be there your entire lives and people think they “fall out of love” because that initial high they had when they were first dating fizzles out.
You’re building a life with someone. Considering them when making decisions that involve the both of you and that future you both envision. People these days are too shallow/selfish/delusional. I’ve seen several video of women saying they want a 6 figure billionaire and they turn down decent average guys based on that alone, and it’s like… less than 1% of the population fits that bill, then add other things like age range, location, whether the person is single etc. It’s astronomically unrealistic to expect some billionaire to sweep you off your feet because you think you “deserve it.” Meanwhile so many women these days don’t want to do anything. Cook. Clean. Any kind of nurturing. Doesn’t mean you HAVE to, but if you’re getting into a relationship, you both have to offer SOMEthing in terms of skill/support. I’ve also seen a lot of women with the mindset of, I’m going to sit here and be pretty and the man will do all the things. No honey, unless you look like a Kardashian, it’s not happening haha
Anyway, I read this book once. Some of the ideas in it are outdated but the one thing I liked was that he basically says love is art. And just like having an art skill or any other skill, you can’t improve/master that skill without putting time/discipline into it. Too many people don’t want to do that. They want feelings that are temporary, fantasies and don’t want to put effort into anything.
Here’s the book if you’re curious: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBPWAJC/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title
I think modern women have also misinterpreted what it means to be “independent” and instead it means, “be a jerk to the opposite gender bc I think I’m superior.” Yes, you should educate yourself and make sure you have the means to support/take care of yourself. My mama always told me that since I was a kid. Not to depend on a man in case something happened, I can take care of myself whether he cheated or he passed away etc. to be able to be independent in that sense. It doesn’t mean, however, that you SHOULDN’T be able to rely on your partner, and that you shouldn’t seek a connection where you can build a life together. My mother was married to my father for 40 yrs before she passed. I’ve been with my hubby for 20 coming this October.
It’s never going to be perfect. You will learn and grow together. And there is never going to be a “right time” where you’re “fully healed” to pursue a relationship. Life is short and we’re works in progress. So long as you’re getting therapy and actively working on yourself, and you find someone doing the same, and you enter a relationship willing to respect one another and support one another, ya’ll be all right.
I’m sure not everyone will agree with what I said. There’s a reason why they say arranged marriages last longer. It’s because the parents that set their children up take their children’s personalities/skill sets/occupations into account in an attempt to make a good fit (in a good arranged marriage, not a bad one).