Why John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s Relationship Offers An Incredible Lesson in Trust and Support

Welcome to #RelationshipGoals, where we’re giving the stage to the power couples we admire. From admirable longterm relationships to inspirational newlyweds, these are the couples we love and hope to take cues from in our own relationships.

Celebrated crooner John Legend and Twitter Queen Chrissy Teigen are one those urban legend couples. The ones who met by chance, hooked up and ended up in fairytale romance that led to love and marriage and beautiful children. They have a love and bond that becomes stronger with each passing day--and both of them like talking about it.

They’ve weathered the Hollywood rumor mill, cross-continental careers, fertility problems, post-partum depression and even a break-up – although does it really qualify as a break-up if one partner just says no and they make up a day later?

Why John Legend and Chrissy Teigen are a true power couple

Back in 2007, John Legend was riding the wave of his second album, the certified platinum "Once Again." Chrissy had just scored the cover of Maxim magazine. But far important was another gig she got booked for – playing John Legend’s love interest the music video for "Stereo."

Sparks flew immediately, and after the 12-hour shoot was over, the two grabbed burgers and spent the evening together. There was plenty of chemistry, but the Grammy winner was set to go on tour and Chrissy cared for him a lot already. Enough to take a chance and believe they’d continue exploring their bond once he returned.

“The worst thing you can do is try to lock someone like that down early on,” she told Cosmopolitan back in 2014. Despite seeing him plastered across tabloids attending events with other women, Chrissy had no intention to set limits on John.

But that didn’t mean the quick-witted Lip Sync Battle host stepped away. The two kept in touch, texting and talking all the time, with John admitting that he fell in love with her over the phone, since her humor and quick wit proved simply irresistible.

Chrissy’s humor and John’s appreciation continued to be an intrinsic part of their relationship. The Sport Illustrated model never misses a beat to entertain fans with jokes and funny retorts.

And similarly to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, the two regularly engage in online banter —although Chrissy is definitely the one with the sharper remarks. And Johm loves each and every one of them, telling Buzzfeed: “I love that my wife is funny. I’m not particularly funny and she puts up with me!”

All the times they inspired us with their love

But their relationship is not just about gorgeous Instagram photos of their growing family, hilarious jokes and a legendary meet-cute.

The two struggled with plenty of difficult moments. Ten years ago, Chrissy was on set for one of Legend’s music videos but this time, there was another gorgeous woman playing his love interest.

For Chrissy, it was too much to see her then-boyfriend laugh away with a beautiful woman in a setting that was all too familiar--that's how they started off. Although there was nothing to it, she stormed off set in a fit of jealousy.

Then there was that time Chrissy was on tour with an exhausted and overwhelmed John, who felt he did not have the emotional resources to maintain a relationship.

But just as she was from the start, Chrissy was confident that they had something great going on. She knew his words, albeit painful, did not come from a lack of love or wanting. A day later, they were back together.

But after their storybook wedding in 2011, and after John wrote what is arguably one of the most beautiful love songs ever about her, the head-over-heels couple started wanting a family. Yet, the dream of babies and a burgeoning family was to come at a high emotional and physical cost.

They couldn’t conceive naturally and had to resort to IVF, a process that was fraught with so much pain. A pain they both felt was important to share. Especially in support of the many, many other couples who go through in silent suffering, because those around them do not understand.

Just like so many others, they struggled with the whys. “The big question was why this wasn’t working for us when I was young and he was healthy?” she opened up to SELF magazine.

And that question would often be followed with thinking of how many other couples became pregnant by sheer accident. And how often that happened. And yet they still had to deal with the toil of IVF. Chrissy especially, who endured the physical toll of the regimen, with its emotional rampage, the wild mood swings, not being in control of her body, the painful bruising, the shots, knowing not to hope, but still hoping…

And finally, baby Luna came along, healthy and growing happily. John and Chrissy fell in love even harder for each other. Coming from a large family, John had plenty of experience with kids and was a very hands-on dad.

Even when his wife was the one to soothe baby in the middle of the night, John was there every moment to sooth Chrissy. And although dad-bod jokes are omnipresent in our society, as are clichés of emotionally unavailable fathers, Chrissy had a true partner in her husband. His involvement in their children’s lives, painted him with even more sex-appeal in his wife’s eyes.

Their biggest relationship takeaway

A dreamy Lake Como wedding, a happy marriage, a booming career and finally the baby they wanted for so long. And yet, Chrissy was unhappy. Deeply unhappy. She knew she shouldn’t be, knew things were going great. Better than great. Her workplace went above and beyond to make a smooth transition for Chrissy going back to work. They created a wonderfully kid-friendly environment.

But it was hard to get out of bed. And for the cookbook author, even food had lost all appeal. She’d go days without it. She was angry and impatient. She was in pain all the time. And sleep-deprived. She had no energy and no enjoyment for life. For work. And she felt guilty. So guilty – for being unhappy.

And then finally, months after suffering, months after people around her had become convinced what she was struggling with, it clicked – she had postpartum depression. That horrible, all-too common affliction that hits new mothers so often. And there was the new diagnosis of anxiety. It came with a lot of relief. And treatment. And an understanding of why she felt the way she was. Why she was the way she was lately. But there was hope now along with the guilt and the pain and the confusion.

And there was John Legend, the ever-present father and husband. The partner in crime who’d be there with food when she could have it. Who’d bring her her medicine and watch really bad TV with her if that’s what brought comfort. Who put on silly hats and goof around. And never, ever made her feel less-than, who never complained and never told her to “get it together” or “get over it.” Even though it was hard to watch his beloved suffer so hard. Who struggled himself with thoughts of guilt and worry, wondering if he was to blame.

But it wasn’t his fault. Nor was it hers. It just happened – like any other illness. It came, and it had to be treated. And often the treatment was often more about support and love and understanding. Of just being present. Of being aware of his partner’s needs, of not letting his ego or hurt feelings get in the way. She wasn’t snappish because of him. She didn’t want to be mean. She didn’t want to lock herself away and not be present and loving and fun and energetic because she had grown tired of their relationship or of him.

He understood. After all, it was not about getting back the happy-go-lucky girl he’d married so it would be easier for him. It was about helping her find her way back to herself and health. And Chrissy eventually did. So much so, the couple recently welcomed baby #2. After all, he’d told her long ago: “Cause all of me/Loves all of you/ Love your curves and all your edges/All your perfect imperfections.”

More inspiring relationships:

• The Secret Behind Denzel Washington’s Long-Lasting Marriage
• Steve Carell and Nancy Carell Prove The Power of Laughing Together
• Keanu Reeves and Alexandra Grant Are More Than An Unconventional Couple
• Kate Winslet Suffered Two Major Heartbreaks Before Finding ‘The One’
• Gisele Bündchen Wrote Tom Brady A Heartfelt Letter to Save Their Marriage