People who have achieved happy relationships are skilled in creating open systems. They have developed a behavior repertoire that create openness in the system. In transformational relationships the partners learn and grow and the relationship grows as well. Transformational relationships are open systems where each individual and the couple is encouraged to bring new information into the relationship. Let's see what several researchers have found out about happy couples who have developed the skills to form an open system.
Happy couples base their relationship on a strong, spiritual foundation.
They sought out something greater than themselves and developed shared rituals to give meaning to their lives. They developed shared rituals to strengthen the bond between them. People in happy relationships shared positive values of commitment, cooperation, loving, acceptance, honesty, respect, responsibility and humor. They lived out these values in their relationship. They down played material success and achievement and defined their relationship in terms of their positive values.