Do you understand the difference between a head chef and a regular cook? I used to think that a head chef is simply someone who reproduces recipes better than other cooks. This is a common misconception—not just in the culinary world. You can't become a head chef by merely following someone else's recipes… You become one only by creating your own. And naturally, you can’t be a head chef without first being a cook. "Chef" - this is not a self-sufficient phenomenon, but a prefix denoting seniority.. Do you see what I mean?

Happiness in personal life follows the same principle. We grow up absorbing advice from others, listening to stories from books and movies, and following societal norms. We are told what relationships "should" look like, what actions are "right" and which ones aren’t. But none of these recipes guarantee happiness—because what works for one couple may be meaningless for another. And no matter how unconventional a recipe may seem, if it brings happiness to both, then it’s the right one. After all, happy people are not judged.

True happiness in relationships is born when two people don’t just copy someone else’s script but create their own. When they realize their story is unique, and so the rules they follow must be uniquely theirs, too. And no matter how unusual this "recipe" may seem, if it makes them both happy, then it is the right one.

But this does not mean that all the rules can be thrown out right away. Just like you can't become a head chef without first mastering the basics of cooking, you can’t build a harmonious relationship without understanding the fundamental principles of connection.

For myself, I’ve identified three key principles that form the foundation of happiness. And only when these foundations become part of life can you step beyond them and create something truly your own. Do you want to know what these principles are? I’ll reveal them in my next posts.