11 Things to Say to Save a Relationship

As we said, words are the first step in doing this so we will talk about some things to say to fix a relationship that can at least give you a lifeline. After that, you have to do the work involved to save it.

Related Article: Things a Good Boyfriend Does.

1. I am sorry.

This is one of the most important things to say to save a relationship when you are the reason that the relationship is going downhill. Even though they seem so simple, these are some very powerful words to say to a man or woman that convey that you are willing to set aside your pride for the sake of the relationship.

Studies have shown that saying sorry to your partner can lead to more trust in the relationship owing to your partner knowing that you care about the relationship. A piece of advice concerning this; apologize for specific instances or for specific things that you do so that your apology appears more genuine. For instance, “I am sorry I don’t give you enough of my time” and “I am sorry I don’t listen to you.”

2. I love you

This is definitely one of the top quotes to save a relationship because there aren’t too many people that don’t want to know how their partner feels about them. Sometimes we get so familiar with our partners that we begin to take this phrase for granted – we shorten it, say it as a by the way thing, and sometimes don’t even look at our partners as we do so.

You want to know what to say to fix a relationship? The answer is to hold your partner, look deeply into their eyes and tell them that you love them. The great thing about this phrase is that there are several ways to say it or things to add to make it more meaningful and funny. You could, for instance, talk about how you love certain attributes of them. This would show that you not only appreciate your partner but that you pay attention to them as well.

3. It was my fault

Taking responsibility in a relationship for wrongs you might have committed is quite underrated. Most people know that when it comes to what to say when you messed up in a relationship, taking responsibility is key yet our pride sometimes comes in the way of that.

A common scenario that plays out is that we find a way to twist things around such that we take some of the blame whilst throwing the rest to our partner by saying that something they did led to what you did. For instance, “I only flirted with him because you don’t show me enough interest.” Sir/ Ma’am, that is a no-no.

Much like an unconditional surrender, take responsibility when you messed up. Don’t try to deflect or project blame as this is the only way to fix a struggling relationship that only got that way because you steadily refuse to take any responsibility. Acknowledging that you messed up when you do allows for better communication which is paramount in helping a relationship grow and thrive.

4. I appreciate you/ Thank you

Being in a relationship comes with responsibilities towards your partner and them towards you. How often have you shown appreciation for the things they do to make your life easier? We ask because people in long-term relationships get so used to things being done for them that they take it for granted and this shouldn’t be the case.

Showing appreciation is very powerful and can help you along in the process of trying to fix a dead relationship. Tell your partner that you are thankful for all they do for you – for the big things and the small and for those things they do without telling you. Use specific instances if you can as this gets you bonus points.

5. I will make time for you

There’s no point in being in a relationship if you aren’t going to give your partner time. We understand that the world today demands a lot from people and keeps them quite busy but you should endeavor to make time for your partner as time spent together strengthens the relationship. How else will you fix problems in a relationship if you don’t get together with your partner to do so?

Luckily there are so many things to do as a couple these days. You can start from the most basic such as dates and watching movies together, going to events, engaging in outdoor activities, or even taking a class together. All these are things you can suggest to your partner to rekindle your passion and fix a failed relationship.

6. I will open up more

You don’t need experts to tell you that not opening up to your partner about things affecting you is detrimental to the survival of a relationship. When you don’t open up, it sends a message that you either don’t trust them enough to talk to them or you don’t think they are important enough in your life to know what you are going through.

If you aren’t the type to let your feelings out, it most likely is affecting your relationship. In your case, when it comes to what to say to save a relationship, tell your partner that you are willing to talk to them more about your life. This opens the door to healthy communication which is important in a relationship.

7. I will listen to you

A very widespread problem in relationships is that people don’t listen enough to their partners to understand what they are saying. This is especially prevalent in long-term relationships where partners might only listen half-heartedly or worse still, only listen to defend themselves.

The damage that this does to relationships is immense because your partner will feel neglected emotionally. To avoid that, talk to your partner and ask them what needs fixing and how you can go about it. Also, tell them that you will compromise on certain issues and then actually follow up on this. Men are usually the offending party in this regard which makes this an excellent thing to say to your girlfriend after a fight as well.

8. I will work on myself

Another one of the things to say to save a relationship is that you will practice self-improvement to target those traits that may be threatening the stability of the relationship. Indeed, a survey by Ex Back Permanently showed that most exes got back together when self-improvement was observed in their partner.