You don’t need to read books on relationships to know that there are some basic things that happy relationships have in common. Trust, commitment, kindness and communication are all commonly cited features that people recognize as being part of the solid relationship. However, there are also more creative things that you can do to strengthen your relationship with your partner.

Consider some of these creative keys to a happy relationship:

• Write in a shared journal. You each write daily or weekly but don’t read what each other wrote. It’s an exercise in trust. At the end of a year, when feelings have settled, you can read what you wrote together and discuss anything that stands out as important.
• Plan to surprise each other with something sexy once or twice a month. Don’t tell each other what the surprise is or even when it will be. Just do something for your sweetheart that’s unexpected to keep that flame of sensuality burning bright.
• Write your own insecurities down on a piece of paper. Tear up the paper and burn it or toss it into the wind. They’ll stop getting between you and your partner and give your relationship more room to grow.

You can read every relationship book out there and it may or may not benefit your situation. However, applying your own creative thinking to your life will always serve to improve it.