Opposites Don't Attract Very Long

There is a misconception out there that says that opposites attract, or, in other words, that people who are very different complement each other the best. By this logic, whatever I don’t add to the relationship, you do, and vice versa.

The truth is that what is perceived as new or different can attract us a lot at first, because we humans tend to be very curious. But there’s a world’s difference between that, and a loving relationship between two very different people, working out over the long term. However, that’s never to say it isn’t a possibility.

Maybe you’ve noticed that when it comes to choosing friends, you almost always tend to approach people who more or less share your same interests and goals, and who have hobbies and tastes similar to yours; this is what causes the union to be kept over time.

And romantic relationships are not that different from friendships. Personally, I think that couples should be close friends, as well as lovers. Primarily because this will make it a breeze to enjoy life together, and will greatly enrich the relationship. However, it’s also important because after the limited period of initial passion is over, the friendship between the two individuals will strengthen the relationship and make it much more lasting.

If two people have nothing in common, once the initial period of attraction and passion has ended, they will end up getting bored with each other, immersing one another in an unbearable monotony.

Short-term attraction

Although it’s true that having a person by your side with certain differences can truly teach you things and help you grow, there will come a time where there are more arguments and discussions than anything else, and inevitably the relationship will wear out over time, due to the large number of differences that have come to light.

Especially if the differences are in values, interests and life goals, the relationship is doomed to failure, unless one of members loves themselves so little that they become dependent on the other and change their own values, tastes and preferences to become a photocopy of the other person. And unfortunately, this is much more common than we think.

People with low self-esteem will often attract people who have little in common with them, based on the false belief that the other person should complement them, when in reality, we are all wonderful human beings and don’t need anyone’s approval about anything.

What issues can arise between such different people?

• Empathy issues: it’s much harder to empathize with very different people than it is to do so with similar people. Getting into someone’s head with whom we are not at all in agreement is complicated and quite often, frustrating. Obviously, it brings forth many complication for the couple, since the ability to understand each other is critical to managing relationships of all different kinds.
• Coexistence issues: If one person is organized and methodical and the other chaotic and messy, it’s going to be a problem sooner or later. At first you may find it funny and joke about it, but in the end the coexistence is going to stagger. The same happens to couples who have different interests.

• Boredom: Logically if you have nothing in common, you will end up getting bored of each other, because it will be very hard to share tastes, hobbies, music, books, movies … and you won’t enjoy yourselves together. There will come a time when you won’t even have things to talk about anymore, and won’t know what to discuss with the other person.
• Individuality: This is very much attached to what I just said about boredom. In fact, it’s the consequence. Eventually, the relationship will become so boring and uninteresting that you’ll opt for getting close to other people who are similar to you, with which you can actually have fun sharing things that satisfy or make you happy.
• Parenting: How can two people with such different values and educational views educate their children healthily? That path to education will prove to be a failure. It can generate an endless number of discussions, as each member will try to convince the other of which is the best method, and will badly confuse their children in the process.

Therefore, different people may be attracted at first by the novelty which is a powerful aphrodisiac, but long-term studies show that couples of opposite poles eventually break up, due to more problems arising in the relationship than benefits.

Image courtesy of Anita Mejía

https://lamenteesmaravillosa.com/los-polos-opuestos-no-se-atraen-mucho-tiempo/