In the age of social media, our generation has the tendency to be heavily influenced by what they see and what is deemed popular. One major topic that permeates throughout social media has to do with relationships and what is considered are considered goals. There are a number of people that have “risen to fame” giving advice that many people agree to but in reality those tips tend to be sort of broad.
‘Relationship Goals’ has been a term that has become loosely used by our generation. It seems as if any simple thing a couple does can be considered a goal to have in a relationship. For example, there can be a picture of a book bag full of Gatorade and a Nike box then you see a note from someone’s girlfriend saying: ‘good luck at your game’. In an instance, athletes on social media use this seemingly inconspicuous post as an example for what would catch their eye if they were in a committed relationship. Let’s be realistic, most college students don’t have the funds to treat their significant other to expensive shoes and $100 worth of snacks. Seeing posts such as this does however, give off the idea that spending money on the person you care about is the only way to prove it to them, their followers and the rest of the social media universe. The gesture in itself is nice and thoughtful, but no one should have the expectation to receive pricey gifts nor feel obligated to break the bank, especially after one has just spent hundreds of dollars on textbooks.
Social media has a way of making or breaking a relationship. Some believe being front and center on their significant other’s social media makes the relationship real and solid. For them, it’s a way to let the world know that they are taken, with hopes of one day being the subject of the now famous #Relationshipgoals tag line. The reality is that doing so can open up your relationship to a lot of outside influences. It could also cause undue stress when your love may not have met the expectation when holidays like Christmas, your birthday or Valentine’s Day rolls around. It never fails, once people find out you’re in a relationship they will try their hardest to pry to see what’s really going on. There is nothing wrong with wanting to show off your new found love, but it is important to keep things as low key as possible. At the very least, until you’ve had the chance to lay a solid foundation.
If you wish to have true ‘relationship goals’ it is all so simple: Just take time to learn about that special person (their wants and needs), establish an understanding as to where the two of you stand so there is no room for confusion, and lastly, Just enjoy each other. Not all relationships are meant to last and that is perfectly fine but that doesn’t mean you can have fun while you’re in it.