When you have been in a relationship with someone for too long, a lot of things happen.
On the better side, you get to bond well and understand each other while on the other, you may be clinging onto trouble in the sense that you will be blind to most of the toxicities that the relationship brings.
All in all, there are realities that you have to brace yourself for and fully embrace them.
1. Your partner isn't meant to complete you
One of the biggest mistakes lovers make is perhaps thinking that the other partner must complement and complete them.
That is not true. As a normal human being, you have to look at your life carefully and evaluate everything.
Never fall into the comfort zone thinking that your lover or your partner will somehow stand in where you are unable to do something.
It is an individual responsibility to ensure that you are who you should be.
2. You're both allowed to want space
Just because you have been in a relationship for a long time does not really mean that you must always be responsible for the other.
It is okay also to want space and get it. Wanting space to do your own work and build your world is important, and your partner should not deny you that.
They should, on the contrary, just let you have space when you want it.
3. You're both going to be attached to other people
Your partner will never really be all that you want them to be, not always.
As such there are things they may not provide with ease.
These may be in the case of, for example, academics.
You will, therefore, get attached or make friends with other people to accomplish some of these goals.
A partner who shuts you out of these in some senses is so insecure and will go a long way in denying you so much that others can offer.