8 relationship lessons you can learn from 'How I Met Your Mother,' according to a therapist

Nasha SmithJul 14, 2020, 02:41 IST

Viewers can learn a lot from Ted's quest to find "the one."CBS

"How I Met Your Mother" followed Ted Mosby, Marshall Eriksen, Lily Aldrin, Barney Stinson, and Robin Scherbatsky as they navigated love and friendships in New York City.
Insider spoke with a therapist to find out what valuable relationship lessons can be learned from the popular CBS sitcom.
Conflict in relationships isn't always a bad thing, but how couples deal with issues will affect their future.
Ted's constant search for love may have blinded him from some unresolved personal issues that were keeping him from finding a successful relationship.

For nine seasons, CBS' hit sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" followed a quirky quintet of friends as they navigated relationships in New York City.

Although some fans thought the show had one of the most controversial series finales of all time, new generations of viewers continue to fall in love with Lily and Marshall and others still stake their claim in the Ted/Robin/Barney love triangle.

To dig deeper, Insider spoke with Bukky Kolawole, a couples therapist and licensed clinical psychologist, about the nuggets of wisdom about love that fans can take from the show.

Here are some relationship lessons you can learn from "How I Met Your Mother."

Conflict in a relationship is not necessarily a bad thing if couples can find a way to tackle it together.

Sometimes a little conflict helps to strengthen a relationship. CBS

It is important to feel empowered to share what we really want with a partner.

Marshall and Lily went through a few rough patches in their relationship. CBS

It's essential to have conversations about major life events together before making a final decision.

Marshall and Lily let their relationship get in the way of their individual goals and dreams. CBS

Constantly chasing love could be an indicator of some unresolved personal issues.

Ted was consumed by his obsession with finding "the one." CBS

Not dealing with unresolved personal issues can hurt future relationships.

Victoria and Ted's relationship was ultimately affected by Ted's messy relationship with Robin. CBS

Sometimes love isn't enough to make a relationship work. You also need to have shared goals.

Love at first sight isn't a strong enough foundation for a successful relationship. CBS

But just because a couple is incompatible at first doesn't mean they can't find common ground in the future.

Sometimes relationships just take time. CBS

Relationships can be messy sometimes, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they're destined to fail.

Barney and Robin faced complications from the start of their relationship. CBS

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