Relationships are a huge part of our lives. They help us cope with daily stress, make us feel good about ourselves and add meaning to our life. However, they do not come naturally and require some work to build and maintain.
Healthy Relationships
A healthy relationship involves honesty, trust and respect between the people involved in it. It requires compromise, a fair balance of power and decision-making rights.
It also includes a safe environment for respectful disagreements and the ability to resolve problems without humiliation, degradation or insisting that one partner is right. It can involve open communication, sharing feelings, emotions, thoughts, finances, and activities.
Strong communication is arguably the number one determining factor of a successful relationship. It’s important to discuss your day, but it can also be helpful to branch out into new topics and ask questions that may surprise or enlighten your partner.
Be Honest & Trusting
It’s important to be honest with your partner, especially when there are things that you might not like about them or think they might not be fair. This could include if they do not have the same job as you, are not into the same hobbies, have different perspectives, or have different interests than you.
Show Up and Support Each Other
A great benefit of a relationship is having someone to support you when you need it most. They can offer encouragement, help you decompress after a bad day at work, and encourage you to seek professional help if they see anything wrong with your health or wellness.