There’s a lot of noise out there when it comes to relationship advice and rules, whether it comes from well-meaning friends and family or something you found on TikTok.

But some common relationship myths could be hindering your relationships, preventing you and your partner from reaching your true potential.

“Love takes work,”Gabby Jimmerson, a couples and sex therapist, told HuffPost.

“It means showing up and navigating discomfort by having honest conversations, and it sometimes means choosing your partner when it’s hard and doesn’t feel super cozy. There’s no sweeping music and no perfect lighting – just a partnership that grows stronger the more you actually do the work.”

Below, couples therapists share the common myths they hear from their clients.

Myth: Relationships are only ‘right’ if they’re easy.

Repeat after me: Relationships ebb and flow all the time – and that is normal.

Yes, things can feel easy at certain moments in your relationship, especially in the early stages of getting together. You’re getting to know each other and doing your best to impress the other person. But according to Jimmerson, even the healthiest relationships experience friction and moments of doubt.

“Couples often innocently assume that because their sex life and connection were thriving before kids, careers and ageing hit the scene, it will effortlessly continue,” Jimmerson said.

“But life is always evolving, and successful couples embrace the idea that love requires action and intentionality even when it’s not totally effortless or convenient.”

In fact, the strongest couples are the ones who’ve had to work during tough seasons in their relationship, Ellie Baker, couples coach and relationship expert and founder ofEmber Couples, told HuffPost.

“They develop skills for noticing disconnection, repairing when things go sideways and adapting as both people grow. Couples who haven’t had to practice working through hard patches can be caught off guard when things feel ‘off’ for the first time. The myth that ‘right’ means ‘easy’ leaves people unprepared for the work that sustainable relationships require.”

Myth: Compatibility should be obvious from the beginning.

“Online dating has trained us to assess people like checklists,”........

© HuffPost