Signs of a Healthy Relationship

If someone asked you what a healthy relationship looked like, what would you say?! It’s easy to say that we want to be in healthy relationships, but most of us struggle with saying what we mean. So, what does a healthy relationship look like?

Here are eight signs of a healthy relationship:

1) Equality: Both individuals are equal partners – neither is better or more powerful than the other. Power differences in a relationship can happen if one person makes all the decisions or insists that the other do exactly as he/she is told. A relationship is built with two people’s input.

2) Respect: This can be a tricky one since we may mean different things. At its most basic level, respect is anything you do or say that shows that you are aware of another’s value and importance. It’s said that you have to earn respect and this is partially true, however, to earn/receive respect, you must first give it. Respect can really be tested in a relationship when you don’t agree on something important – it’s okay, and respectful, to agree to disagree.

3) Honesty & Trust: These two go hand-in-hand. If you’re in honest relationship, you both tell the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable. Trust is a feeling that is established over time when a person shows his/her consistency in words and actions – by being honest, reliable and dependable.

4) Communication: Having clear and frequent communication is incredibly important in healthy relationships. You should feel comfortable expressing your thoughts and feelings. You’ll still have arguments, but you’ll be able to work out your differences to reach a resolution.

5) Responsibility & Accountability: Each person in the relationship takes responsibility and accountability for her/himself and his/her actions – no blaming things on the other person or saying that the other person “made me” say or do something.

6) Supportive: In a healthy relationship, each person is supportive of the other – in good times and bad. You support and encourage the other to grow, learn, and develop as an individual.

7) Individuality: Each person keeps their own identity. You spend time together and time apart – you are more than your relationship, with your own interests, friends, and opinions.

8) Safety: You should always feel safe in your relationships – physically, emotionally, and mentally. In a healthy relationship, you don’t worry that the other is going to purposefully hurt you.

If your relationship is not as healthy as you’d like, talk with your partner to see what you both are willing to do to improve the relationship.