There’s a way we think about relationships that is a problem, quite frankly. This way of thinking seems to make sense when you’re first dating, but I find that many of us never shift out of it.
I’m talking about a “consumer” approach to a relationship.
Consumerism encourages a me-first attitude. People don’t want to be in a relationship where they are always giving and don’t get anything back. And I would encourage this thinking to shift even when dating. That’ll help you avoid the trap of only thinking about what you can get out of a relationship, instead of what you can give.