Two people, man and woman, when they have a common set of interests, eventually see each other as probable romantic partners. They bank on their interests and create a beautiful bond, based on what they have. This scenario is the default beginning of a normal relationship, but what happens if such is not the case? Let’s say, you are attracted to someone, yet his or her interests entirely contradicts yours. Do you pursue him or her, or do you wait for someone who is seemingly more suitable, in spite of your feelings? Of course, you should pursue, or at least delve into your prospect’s personality.

The difference between people may be a common cause for arguments, but it is also a characteristic that spices up relationships, whether romantic, friendly, or even parental. Yes, many disagreements will happen along the way, but if you manage to get along, the results will be phenomenal. Your differences will make every conversation interesting, especially your friendly arguments. You just have to bear an open mind and establish a common ground, then you’ll believe in magic, corny as it may sound. Here are six ways to make an odd relationship work.

1. Establish a Middle Ground In-Between the Differences

Two totally different people are prone to clash anytime, unless a significant similarity or group of similarities are established. No matter how different two individuals are, you can find at least one similarity. The question is, is that characteristic or behavior potent enough to beget you and the other’s every difference? If you answered yes, you can delve into that similarity, support it with your own opinions and experiences, then who knows, you might find out that you people aren’t too different after all. If you answered no, on the other hand, you can move on and find someone who is more suitable.

So what’s the significance of this middle ground? It is called the relationship sanctuary. After every heated argument, you can always go back to that sanctuary and re-establish your ties. The middle ground is not just mutual feelings for each other, nor the particular interest in the other’s persona/personality, since those are merely add-ons or results of that plateau. It is the intertwining, then building, of a few common behaviors and interests, which results in the gradual revelation of a personality, often found exciting by many people. Imagine how thrilling it is to discover your prospect’s personality piece-by-piece, as if they are crumbs of chocolate, arranged in such a way that it leads straight to your ultimate goal, which is a relationship. Ah, delectable!

Once the middle ground is established, you can show your partner the perks of your side of things and vice-versa. Both of you will learn many things from your differences, as long as you are open minded. In the end, you and your partner will grow as lovers and as individuals, which happens to be the goal of every relationship. Now do you see the beauty?

2. It’s in the Performance Anyway

Sex, no matter what conservative people say, is an integral part of a romantic relationship. The sexual chemistry of two individuals not only stirs attraction, but it can actually be grounds for creating a relationship. The partners must move in a certain congruence, a stimulating form of understanding or give and take, before they can consider themselves sexually compatible.

Those movements can reflect the attitudes of the people performing the act. You may have the opposite set of interests with your prospect, but your symmetry during sex shows the compatibility of your personalities. Besides, sex is all about honesty, since you can never lie about your performance. Intercourse, of course, is not the most accurate way of measuring compatibility, but it is still a decent option, a pleasurable one at best. (To enjoy this facet of the relationship, one must master the Top ten sexual positions)

3. The Perfect Complement

Some people look for prospects, with whom they can create a physical and emotional connection. The connection, aside from their feelings, will be the backbone of their relationship. They can bank on their similarities and their understanding of those similarities to mend any rift or conflict. On the flipside, some prefer finding someone who has a different set of goals and interests, which would later blend with theirs and perhaps form of an unbreakable bond. This concept is called the perfect complement.

The perfect complement is a risk, given that opposites are often combustible elements. Being perceptive and open minded is the key. You should see how acceptable the other’s differences, as you match them with your interests and behaviors. If you find them workable and find the person pretty attractive, go for it. Engage the person in a good conversation and see how the topics shift from one subject to another. You can then adjudge if he or she is open enough to accept what you bring to the table. Once you make the relationship work, you’ll be the envy of your peers, friends and even loved ones.

4. Update the TLRC Checklist

The TLRC checklist, composed of four characteristics that should be present in every relationship, is the measure if a bond is working or if some things need to be worked on. It stands for:

• Trust
• Love
• Respect
• Compromise

Clearly, the concept is simple, but having all four elements in a relationship takes serious work. Each characteristic is independent yet closely connected to the others. So if one of the elements is missing, the others are already affected indirectly.

For instance, your lover does not show you much respect. Making a compromise would likely be a problem, since respect is one of the factors that drive compromise. Sooner or later, trust will diminish, coming from the antagonism caused by the lack of respect, and finally, the love will fade. This signals the end of a relationship, which sometimes catches couples off guard. They can prevent such a tragedy from happening, if they have been keeping track of what they lack through the checklist.

So how does the list figure in making odd relationships work? When you find a prospect, regardless if he or she is an odd partner, you can adjudge where you guys stand using the checklist. Check the list’s components and match them with your current relationship. If it meets all four elements, your relationship is presumably strong. If it doesn’t, you must talk things over with your partner or prospect until your issues are resolved, that simple and at the same time that complex.

5. Don’t Listen to Naysayers, Unless They Say Something Relevant

Many people doubt the success of an odd-pairing for numerous reasons, which can be heard from their comments regarding an “odd relationship.” Some base their comments from experience while others simply relay what their friends tell them about the issue. Close minded folks, on the other hand, bear the “Shoot the Alien at Sight” mentality. Sometimes these comments are nothing but mere distractions, even if they come from your closest friends.

Naysayers have a knack for making random observations that might sound right, but remember, they do not know the entirety of your situation. The only comments that you should listen to are the ones that point to significant scenes, details, or how your feel about your relationship. These words of advice, coming from objective individuals, can actually help your relationship grow, since they can see everything in your relationship without being partial.

6. View Things from a Universal Perspective

In some cases, the only thing preventing a relationship from taking off is being closed to your own beliefs. You might be too mesmerized with your own beliefs and standards that you refuse to see the good things offered by other people, including romantic prospects. As a result, you may be trapped in your comfort zone, never to find anyone who can provide a good relationship, given your pretty conditional stance. Remember, no man is an island. The same goes with romantic and friendly relationships.

The moment you bear a universal perspective, you will understand the beauty of other people’s beliefs and interests, which may spark your personality’s growth. You can adjust to nearly any type of conversation, which results in garnering tons of friendly relationships. As for romance, you’ll have more options and some of them may hold what you have always been looking for in a romantic relationship. You don’t really need to make yourself totally abundant, or to be an extreme extrovert. You just have to be open-minded, plain and simple.

Achieving Symmetry through Difference

Relationships that are labeled odd may blossom the loveliest bonds or perhaps the most passionate displays of affection. Think of a successful one as a pair of hands with outstretched fingers. Notice the spaces in between the fingers. Those spaces represent the gaps in your personality while the other hand’s set of spaces represents your prospect’s. Join the hands together and it forms a complete figure, strengthened by each other’s differences. Now that’s complete symmetry, which can be present in your relationship. Everybody wants to have something like that, no matter what type of relationship. For more information regarding this article, read how to build a lasting relationship.