What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like?

When it comes to relationships, there's no one-size-fits-all advice that applies to everyone. But when deciding whether or not to pursue a relationship, it can be helpful to consider what makes up a healthy union. Navigating love and commitment isn't always easy — but understanding the components of an emotionally and physically reflective and supportive relationship is key for both parties to experience joy, contentment, and satisfaction over time.

Having a healthy, functional relationship may seem elusive to some. For example, suppose you grew up around less-than-ideal relationships. In that case, it can be easy to overlook unhealthy daily patterns and not realize the baseline of a good bond between people in love. But here's the thing — there are certain must-haves for others to experience bliss rather than pain! These characteristics should never go neglected or unaddressed. If something feels off balance within your connection, address it. So, take note – these basics need tending to so both parties get their happily ever after!

Built on Trust

Trust is the foundation of any strong relationship. Without it, emotional closeness can't grow, and you risk getting hurt again by a partner who may not mean what they say or be reliable in their commitment to you. So if your relationship feels strained or unpredictable, establishing and rebuilding trust will help strengthen its bond for years!

Good Communication

Not all of us are naturally great communicators, especially regarding uncomfortable topics. Many of us learned that keeping things hidden is preferable - even if we struggle with our feelings and opinions in silence. And then there's the risk of taking a conflict too far, feeling threatened, and responding by lashing out without thinking. That doesn't make you any less worthy, though - don't forget how important communication is for nurturing positive relationships! Working on improving your conversations can have amazing effects over time.

To help you, I’ve created an Effective Communication Guide that walks you through the Six Principles of Effective Communication, your rights in relationships, and how to communicate assertively (not passively or aggressively). The Guide even helps you create a script you can use the next time you have something important you need to say.

Patience

We all get frustrated and impatient sometimes — that's just part of being human. But in a healthy, loving relationship, partners should practice extending patience as often as possible to ensure peace between them. Suppose one person is having an off day or not feeling their best. In that case, it can be helpful for the other partner to recognize this and adjust accordingly instead of keeping track of every issue they have with each other – that way, both people feel unconditionally loved!

Flexibility

Relationships can't function without compromise. Neither partner should be stuck in the same spot all the time — they have to show flexibility and adjust, especially when it comes to conflict resolution so that one person isn't always bending over backward! Being open-minded is essential for any healthy relationship; partners must prioritize each other's feelings and evaluate how best those needs are met in the future.

Mutual Respect

Respect is an important ingredient in any healthy relationship. It means valuing opinions and listening to each other without judgment. It also means respecting each other's personal space and boundaries. When there is mutual respect in a relationship, both partners feel valued and appreciated, which leads to a stronger bond.

A relationship is only as healthy as the two people in it. Many different factors go into making a relationship work, such as trust, communication, respect, and more. If you're curious about a healthy relationship or want tips, join my Facebook group Creating Soulful Relationships. We discuss everything from boundary-setting to self-love and everything in between. I hope to see you there!