Most of us indeed desire to experience a perfect relationship, one that is filled with happiness and – most importantly – love. Whether social or romantic, relationships are meant to be nurtured and enjoyed. Unfortunately, for many of us, we’ve experienced so many toxic relationships in our lives that we’ve forgotten what a good and healthy relationship really feels like. In this light, many of us have had to make do with our imperfect relationships, even though we are not happy in them. It then begs the question: how many of us truly understand the characteristics of a good relationship? How many people understand the indications of an unhealthy relationship? Well, we’ve outlined some qualities below which discuss the characteristics of a healthy relationship. So, feel free to ride with us.
Individual happiness is personal
Many people are fond of believing that their partners are meant to be the sole source of their happiness. This is a wrong ideology, one that should be eradicated from your relationship if you fall into this category. Always remember that before you met your friend, partner, or colleague, you had a life and you were obviously happy. So, why should that change? A truly vibrant and healthy relationship is one in which neither partner expects the other to be the source of all their fulfillment, love, and happiness. While you are meant to enjoy each other’s company, you need to understand that your happiness is personal and only you are responsible for creating it.
Healthy relationships don’t fix
One of the biggest challenges confronting many relationships today is the case of ‘individual differences.’ In a healthy relationship, if one person is more of a procrastinator while the other is proactive, the other person isn’t going to try to fix his/her partner by pushing them to get their job done quickly or go to work early. Healthy relationships respect each other’s differences. One party doesn’t try to force the other party to change or become anything different from what they were. What many partners in an unhealthy relationship fail to grasp is that change is a personal affair, and you don’t achieve it through force or nagging. If the affected person truly wants to change, then they will solicit your help on their own terms and in their own way.
The relationship is balanced
In a healthy relationship, no one person has a superior authority or power over the decisions of the other person. Both parties have an equal right, and equal say over decisions made, and they both respect each other’s individual differences. If you’ve been exerting a level of authority over your partner before now, try and mend your ways. Remember, it is a relationship and not a military affair.
Conflicts don’t get prolonged
A healthy relationship has the quality of dealing with conflicts head-on. Rifts and conflicts are no deal-breaker in these types of relationships. Just because your partner annoys you doesn’t mean you have to move on to something else. Disagreements should be seen as an opportunity to learn and grow, and after reaching a resolution, any lingering thoughts or actions should be dropped.
Honesty
Honesty is the biggest missing element in many relationships today. How many people can actually vouch for their partners? Not so many! However, honesty isn’t even a debatable subject in a healthy relationship; instead, it is a part of what makes the relationship healthy. Right from your feelings to your opinions, it is very essential for each person to be honest with the other party. Honesty helps in the building of trust in one another, and without complete honesty, trust is most likely going to elude your relationship.
Relationship first
In a healthy relationship, partners consider the other person’s interest and opinions when making decisions. They don’t just take off and plan a trip without the other party’s consent. People in healthy relationships make room in their hearts for the other person and are willing to work together as a unit.
Compromise
In a healthy relationship, each person does not always get his or her way. Instead, each partner should acknowledge the other’s different points of view and be willing to give and take.
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