Are you building your relationship on a foundation of love... or dangerous assumption? We spend more time planning a one-day wedding than we do the 50-year marriage. In this episode, we expose the silent crisis of modern relationships and reveal the path to building a love that truly lasts forever.Welcome to Counting The Cost, the essential 5-part series from the Steps To Forever podcast. In this powerful first installment, "The Architect and the Altar," we explore why so many well-intentioned relationships crumble: we fall in love with the idea of the finished cathedral, but we forget about the quarrying, the stonemasonry, and the deep foundational work required before laying the first stone.Join us as we move beyond the romance to discuss the real, unspoken lifestyle trade-offs and personal sacrifices of a lifelong partnership. We dive deep into the critical costs every couple must account for:➡️ The immense Time Investment required to build a "we."➡️ The stark realities of Financial Commitment and joint planning.➡️ The subtle and significant Career Impact on both partners.➡️ The surprising and challenging Loss of Autonomy.➡️ The hidden Opportunity Costs and the paths not taken.This isn't about fear; it's about masterful preparation. Drawing on psychology, economics, and timeless wisdom, we unpack the cognitive biases that make us think "it won't happen to us" and provide a powerful, solutions-oriented blueprint for success. Learn how to transform from a romantic dreamer into a master architect of your relationship, equipped with pragmatic tools like "Foundational Summits" and "Trade-Off Budgeting."If you're in a serious relationship, engaged, or even newly married, this is the most important conversation you could have.👇 What was your biggest "un-counted cost" in a relationship? Share your wisdom in the comments below.🔔 SUBSCRIBE for Part 2 of the 'Counting The Cost' series and more content on building a love that lasts forever.👍 LIKE & SHARE this episode with someone who needs to hear it.