According to marriage and family therapist Doreen Meister, partnerships that have issues with control don’t tend to last long. When two people are in a healthy and happy relationship, they don’t feel the need to control each other and what their partners do. But when there’s a battle of power and control, eventually something’s gotta give. Meister says, “If you’re starting to narrow your life, then you’re ultimately not flourishing, and the relationship won’t flourish.”