Many young couples like to imagine that they've found the love of their lives and believe that their heartfelt relationship can endure any challenge it encounters. Whether your relationship can truly stand the test of time isn't always a given, however, and some romantic encounters and partnerships are on much firmer ground than others when it comes to the long-term.

Will your relationship stand the test of time? No one can predict the future with total accuracy, but a review of your relationship thus far can help you see if you'll be together until the hourglass runs out.

Most relationships aren't forever

It's not necessarily a dreary fact to admit that most relationships don't last forever – after all, not every goodbye is sour, and sometimes relationships can come to a healthy close that leaves both parties happy they got the chance to mingle with one another for some time. Still, it can be a bit daunting for some couples to learn that most relationships don't even last three years. One survey found that the average relationship is now a mere two years and nine months, and the hectic pace of the modern world is no doubt contributing to the ever-increasing frantic natures of our love lives.

Not all relationships have to end before they hit that magical three year mark, however. Indeed, some couples stand the test of time itself, and remain together until the very end. That kind of magical connection isn't always easy to find, however, and many nurse legitimate worries that their relationship will grow fraught with age and crumble with time. One of the ways that young people can stop worrying about the future of their relationship is to examine its past.

Couples that have argued with one another frequently without managing to ever blow the lids off the pots and pans and breakup entirely, for instance, probably have some experience with conflict resolution that can come in handy in the long-term. Relationships that feature one or both parties bottling up their emotions can quickly devolve into nightmares that come to a calamitous end, however. Ask yourself about the level of communication you and your partner are experiencing; if you're regularly talking out your problems, it's a positive sign that this relationship might stand the test of time.

If you want to get a head start on maintaining your relationship, you should study what couples therapists have to say about those unions that last the longest. If you're not united against your problems and working together as an effective team, the chances of your relationship enduring the trials of time are likely growing slimmer by the day.

Forging a powerful relationship

If you're truly intent on forging a powerful relationship that can withstand anything, check out these six problems couples therapists have identified as being the ones that most frequently push relationships to the brink. If you're able to identify these kinds of problems ahead of time, you'll fare much better when the time comes to actually deal with them in your own relationship. This is because constant communication and preparation for the unexpected, like getting affordable MRI imaging, is an essential part of maintaining a relationship for a long time.

Still, people struggle intensely when it comes to scoping out "the one" and determining if it's a match that can stand the test of time. If you get better at learning how to detect a compatible match early on in the dating process, you'll probably have an easier time of it when it comes to ensuring the integrity of your relationship. Above all else, however, it's important that you remember that no two couples are alike, and that you need to view the specifics of your situation from an unbiased position that will help you mend any tears you find in the fabric of your relationship.

If you feel an overwhelming sense of trust when you think of your partner, for instance, there's a strong chance you can trust them to be on your team forever. Couples that nurse doubt about one another's loyalty virtually always fragment in the end, and those who are unwilling to question the nature of their relationship at all seldom see their flings last for more than a few weeks. Constant introspection and honesty on the part of both partners is necessary for a relationship to endure the sands of time.

Inevitably, time will change and test even the strongest of relationships. This isn't a negative thing, however; all healthy relationships evolve over time, and both you and your partner will change and grow stronger the longer you share a life together. If you're worried about your relationship standing the test of time, start spending more time with your partner exploring the myriad of reasons you love one another, and you'll quickly see if you've found the love of your life.