Oct 10, 2026 · 20 min · 10 segments
Discipline does not have to mean constant pressure or exhaustion. Discover how to create sustainable routines, strengthen self-control, reduce distractions, and stay committed to your goals while…
So Dr. Susan Johnson has this widely recognized framework.
It outlines six major stages of relationships.
Stage one is the dating stage.
You know, you're just vetting, figuring out if this person fits into your life.
Right.
Then stage two is the honeymoon stage, which usually lasts like a year to a year and a half.
And we should pause there for a second, actually, because the honeymoon stage is this massive neurochemical event.
Your brain is just flooded with dopamine and oxytocin.
The rose-colored glasses.
A hundred percent.
You are literally wearing rose colored glasses, which glosses over the other person's flaws.
It feels effortless, but eventually, you know, your brain has to return to baseline chemistry and that initiates stage three, which is the power struggle stage.
Which is the absolute danger zone.
I mean, if you survive that, you move into stage four, stability, then stage five, commitment, and finally stage six, bliss, which is essentially the honeymoon stage again, but rooted in a deep, true knowing of each other.
A
grounded reality.
Yeah.
But I want to go back to that power struggle stage because statistically that is where most relationships just go to die.
They do.
And it is entirely predictable.
When the chemical high wears off, the illusion of perfection just shatters.
Suddenly you are dealing with a flawed, complicated human being who has entirely different needs and triggers than you do.
Right.
But psychologically speaking, the power struggle is a vital, necessary opportunity.
It's the exact moment you are supposed to drop the mask.
So Dr. Susan Johnson has this widely recognized framework.
It outlines six major stages of relationships.
Stage one is the dating stage.
You know, you're just vetting, figuring out if this person fits into your life.
Right.
Then stage two is the honeymoon stage, which usually lasts like a year to a year and a half.
And we should pause there for a second, actually, because the honeymoon stage is this massive neurochemical event.
Your brain is just flooded with dopamine and oxytocin.
The rose-colored glasses.
A hundred percent.
You are literally wearing rose colored glasses, which glosses over the other person's flaws.
It feels effortless, but eventually, you know, your brain has to return to baseline chemistry and that initiates stage three, which is the power struggle stage.
Which is the absolute danger zone.
I mean, if you survive that, you move into stage four, stability, then stage five, commitment, and finally stage six, bliss, which is essentially the honeymoon stage again, but rooted in a deep, true knowing of each other.
A
grounded reality.
Yeah.
But I want to go back to that power struggle stage because statistically that is where most relationships just go to die.
They do.
And it is entirely predictable.
When the chemical high wears off, the illusion of perfection just shatters.
Suddenly you are dealing with a flawed, complicated human being who has entirely different needs and triggers than you do.
Right.
But psychologically speaking, the power struggle is a vital, necessary opportunity.
It's the exact moment you are supposed to drop the mask.
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