What matters more in a lasting relationship: finding the right person—or putting in the right effort?

Some people believe that when you meet your soulmate, everything simply clicks. The relationship feels natural, the connection is strong, and you should not need a strategy to make it work.

Others argue that no one is perfect. Love is not about finding the right person—it is about commitment, communication, patience, and doing the work.

The truth is: you need both.

A healthy relationship requires two people who are not perfect, but who are decent, kind, honest, considerate, and capable of caring for someone beyond themselves. No amount of effort can create a healthy relationship with someone who is abusive, manipulative, toxic, or unwilling to take responsibility.

But finding a good person is not eno ...