Many types of relationships exist – between friends, family members, romantic partners, and more. While each one is unique, all healthy relationships tend to share the same essential qualities.
Many of these characteristics will not arise accidentally or immediately. Developing a healthy relationship requires time, patience, and effort from everyone involved. However, the work is often worth it, as healthy relationships provide valuable support, improve your mental and physical health, and can even extend your life.
Healthy Communication
Arguably the most important quality of any successful relationship is effective communication. Without it, it can be challenging to understand each other’s needs and desires, resolve conflicts, or enjoy each other’s company.
Healthy communication involves:
- Listening to each other
- Expressing yourself openly and honestly
- Respecting each other’s opinions, even if you disagree
- Talking about complex topics in a way that is respectful and constructive
- Using words and tones that demonstrate care and concern
- Taking turns talking and listening
- Making an effort to understand each other’s point of view
Healthy Trust
Another key ingredient in any healthy relationship is trust. This means being able to rely on each other for support and safety, both emotionally and physically. It also means being honest with each other and feeling secure in the knowledge that your relationship is built on a foundation of mutual respect.
Healthy Support
Everybody needs a little help from time to time, and feeling like you have someone to turn to in times of need can be a huge source of comfort. In a healthy relationship, both partners should support one another, whether that means being there to listen when one of you is feeling down, offering help with a difficult task, or simply being there to celebrate the good times.
Healthy Conflict Resolution
No relationship is perfect, and even the healthiest couples will experience their fair share of disagreements. How those disagreements are resolved separates a healthy relationship from an unhealthy one. In a healthy relationship, both partners feel confident in their ability to resolve conflicts constructively. This means being able to openly discuss differences without resorting to anger, threats, or other forms of abuse. It also means being able to compromise and find mutually agreeable solutions.
Healthy Individuality
While being there for each other, it’s also essential to have your own separate lives. This means maintaining your hobbies, interests, and friendships. It also means giving each other the space to do these things without feeling guilty or like you’re neglecting your relationship.
A healthy relationship should enhance your life and make you feel good about yourself, not make you feel like you’re losing your identity.
Healthy Love
Healthy relationships are built on a foundation of love. This may not always equate to the kind of giddiness and butterflies you felt in the early stages of your relationship, but it should be a deep feeling of affection and care. It will involve intimacy and closeness and a sense of friendship and companionship.
Loving relationships must be nurtured and cared for, and it’s often the result of small, everyday acts of kindness and affection. If you feel like your relationship lacks any of these qualities, don’t hesitate to seek outside help. Many resources are available to couples who want to improve their relationship, and often all it takes is a little effort and commitment from both partners.
