Everyone desires to have a relationship that is filled with happiness, joy, and love. Unfortunately, many people have been exposed to so many unhealthy relationships that they don’t know what a truly healthy relationship looks like and feels like.
But if you are tired of trial and error relationships, here are 10 characteristics of a healthy relationship:
Partners truly value their relationship
Both partners are loyal to one another and willing to work through conflicts together. They both truly believe in the relationship and are committing to the lessons and growth that come while being together despite the challenges that come up.
The relationship is balanced
No one person has any more power over decisions made as a couple than the other. Both people have an equal say and have equal control over decisions made and both equally respect each other as a different and unique human being.
Partners don’t try to control or fix the other person
Partners in healthy relationships respect one another’s differences. One doesn’t try to force the other to change or be anything different then themselves. The reality is that nobody wants to be changed or fixed especially if it’s unsolicited. If the person really truly wants to change, then they will ask for help on their own terms and in their own way. Change isn’t going to happen through nagging or force.
Feelings are shared honestly and openly
Both people share their genuine feelings with one another freely. Both partners respect and accept the other’s feelings. Expressing one another’s true feelings aren’t repressed because both partners know that by not sharing them and that by not accepting the other person’s feelings it will cause conflicts later on.
Conflicts are handled and dropped
In a healthy relationship, conflicts aren’t a deal breaker. Just because a conflict happens, it doesn’t signal that it’s time to just check out and move on to something else. Rather, the conflict is seen as an opportunity to learn and grow. Both sides openly share their feelings and views honestly, and with respect.
Conflict is accepted as a natural part of life and any frustrations are dealt with early rather than repressed and brought back up time and time again.
Both partners are willing to put their relationship before themselves
In a healthy relationship, both partners are able and willing to consider their partner when making decisions. They don’t just go off and plan a trip for themselves without discussing it with the other person. They make room in their lives for the other person and are willing to work together as a unit.
Partners understand and accept that they are not going to agree on everything
In a healthy relationship, both partners know that it is perfectly okay to agree to disagree. They know that just because one partner has one viewpoint, it doesn’t mean that the other has to completely agree. They know that having differences in opinion and beliefs doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.
Each person takes care of themselves
Both people in the relationship understand and know that self-care is an absolutely vital component for a healthy relationship. They know that if they don’t take care of themselves and do things for themselves that they will be stressed, drained, and exhausted. They know that when they don’t take care of themselves, they have little love to give to their partner.
They want to be together just for companionship
Some people go into relationships because they want some kind of security. That can be emotional, physical, financial, or whatever. In a truly healthy relationship, both people want to be together because they genuinely want to share their lives with the other person. Security isn’t a primary motivation to be in the relationship, as the motivation of genuine love runs so much deeper than the security that can be gained on a physical level.
Partners know that they are responsible for their own individual happiness
Many people unfortunately fall into the bad habit of believing and expecting that their partners are meant to be their source of happiness, love and fulfillment in their lives.
But in a healthy relationship, neither partner expects the other to be the source of all their happiness in life. Both people know and understand that they themselves are responsible for their own happiness and well-being.
They know that they are there to support and help one another, but they both know that they are ultimately responsible for themselves.