15 Signs Of A Healthy Relationship

Let’s get one thing straight – romantic relationships are not a smooth journey. Being genuinely happy with your partner in a healthy and meaningful relationship takes a lot of patience, effort, and hard work. To be in this type of relationship, you and your partner need to know how to solve any problem that may come your way. In addition, you need to know how to deal with misunderstandings and conflict as they’re an inseparable part of any strong, healthy relationship. 

However, there’s a big difference between being in a relationship where you and your partner occasionally have arguments and being in one that’s draining, potentially harmful, and toxic. So, the question is: How can you differentiate between a healthy and a toxic relationship?

In this article, we’ll explain the characteristics of a healthy relationship and how you can know you’re in one. We’ll also share a few tips on how to build a healthy and successful relationship. (1)

What Does A Healthy Relationship Look Like?

Any healthy relationship is built on a foundation of open communication, respect, equality, and trust between partners. In a strong, healthy relationship, partners are willing to make compromises, respect each other’s independence and need for personal space, and make their own decisions. (2)

How Do You Know If You’re In A Healthy Relationship?

If you’re in a relationship and wondering whether the relationship is healthy, know that healthy romantic relationship are not the same for everyone. What makes a relationship healthy depends on your and your partner’s needs. However, all strong, healthy, and happy relationships tend to have several characteristics in common. So, in what follows, we’ve presented 15 telltale signs that show you’re in a healthy relationship.

1. You Trust Each Other

You and your partner have absolute trust in each other. You don’t keep secrets from each other, and you don’t worry that your partner might cheat on you when you’re apart.

In addition, you feel comfortable and safe around your partner and know they’d never do anything that could hurt you emotionally. You know they have your best interests at heart and let you make your own decisions and choices. (3)

2. You And Your Partner Have Open Communication

You feel free to speak your mind around your partner. Even when they disagree with you over something, they respect your opinion and listen to you without judgment.

Moreover, you can talk about anything with them without worrying that they might judge you or criticize you. You can talk about your failures, mistakes, successes, and what’s going on in your life. 

Additionally, you feel comfortable talking to your partner about any problems that appear, from a friend’s betrayal and work stress to more serious problems, such as financial issues or health conditions.

3. You Accept Each Other The Way You Are

Your partner is aware of all of your insecurities, imperfections, annoying habits, whims, and failures, but they accept you just the way you are. And the other way round – you embrace all of their flaws and love them for who they are.

4. You Show Each Other Affection

Partners in happy relationships don’t feel ashamed or afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves. They know that kissing and hugging are what keep the romance between them alive and make the bond between them even deeper and more meaningful. They know that small gestures of affection make them feel loved, comforted, and safe within their relationship.

So, if you and your partner are affectionate, not only is this a sign that you’re genuinely interested in each other, but it’s also a sign that you’re in a healthy relationship.

5. You Encourage Each Other To Be Better

Partners in healthy relationships inspire each other to become the best versions of themselves. They motivate each other to pursue high goals, whether personal or professional, work hard to fulfill their dreams, face tough challenges, and work on themselves. So, if this is exactly how you and your partner behave towards each other, you can take this as a sign that you’re in a healthy relationship.

6. Your Partner Respects Your Boundaries

Even when you’re in a serious, committed, long-term relationship, you still need to maintain a sense of yourself as a separate and unique individual. You have your own life. Establishing boundaries that your partner will respect is essential if you want your relationship to last.

Your partner understands this very well. They respect your need for personal space and alone time. They give you the freedom to live your own life, pursue your goals, and do activities you enjoy.

7. You Stick With Each Other Through Thick And Thin

Partners in healthy relationships are there for each other when life throws difficult challenges their way. One clear sign that shows you’re in a healthy relationship is how you and your partner treat each other during difficult times. Do you share your problems and pain with each other? Do you support and comfort each other? Are you each other’s crying shoulder whenever you’re faced with emotional pain? If your answer is yes, take this as a sure sign that you’re in a strong, healthy relationship.

8. You Empathize With Each Other

Partners in healthy relationships understand each other’s perspectives. They are able and willing to put themselves in each other’s shoes and go through the same pain and suffering the other person is going through.

So, if you can understand your partner’s perspective and if their pain prompts you to help them feel better, take this as a telltale sign that you’re in a healthy relationship.

9. You Appreciate The Seemingly Unimportant Things In Life

Life’s most precious moments often take us by surprise. You and your partner recognize and cherish those moments when they happen. Whether it’s drinking the first-morning coffee together or eating pizza together while watching your favorite movie on Netflix, you appreciate and enjoy the seemingly unimportant moments in life.

10. You Don’t Let The Past Affect Your Relationship

Both of you have had your own share of failed relationships. Both of you have made mistakes and experienced failure. But you don’t allow these negative moments and aspects from your past to affect your relationship and weaken your connection. 

11. You Feel Like Your Best Self Around Your Partner

You know all your weaknesses and imperfections, but you don’t feel like you need to hide them when your partner is around. You don’t feel the need to change the way you talk or behave or pretend to be someone you’re not in their presence. You feel free and comfortable being yourself around them because you know they accept and love you just the way you are.

12. You Respect Each Other

Partners in healthy relationships respect each other’s feelings, needs, and desires. They respect each other’s opinions no matter how different they are. But most importantly, they respect each other’s need for personal space and alone time. 

13. You Handle Conflict In A Healthy Manner

Partners in healthy relationships don’t hide their feelings and pretend everything is okay when they’re upset with each other. They don’t stonewall each other or allow their relationship problems to escalate. Instead, they express their emotions openly and do their best to resolve their problems as soon as they appear.

14. You Are Honest With Each Other

One obvious sign that shows you’re in a healthy relationship is how honest you and your partner are with each other. 

Partners in healthy relationships are open about simple details of their lives, including their dreams and hopes. They openly express their emotions, and they don’t hide their true selves or lie to their partners about their behaviors and habits. So, if you can proudly say that you and your partner are entirely honest with each other, take this as a clear sign that you’re in a healthy relationship.

15. You’re Curious About Each Other

Partners in healthy relationships are interested in each other’s thoughts, likes, goals, hobbies, and daily life. 

One clear sign that shows you’re in a healthy relationship is how you and your partner see each other. If you’re able to see and accept them for who they really are, without idealizing them or focusing on who you think they should be, not only is this a sign that you’re in a healthy relationship, but it’s also a sign that you genuinely care about each other.

12 Tips On How To Build A Healthy Relationship

• Respect your partner’s feelings, opinions, needs, and desires.
• Don’t do anything that could break your partner’s trust in you.
• Accept and love your partner for who they are, with all their weaknesses and imperfections.
• Always be there for your partner. Let them know they can always rely on you.
• Be yourself around your partner.
• Express your opinions and feelings openly.
• Be caring, considerate, empathetic, and affectionate.
• Respect your partner’s boundaries.
• Don’t compete with your partner.
• Always be honest with your partner about anything.
• Show interest in your partner’s likes, hobbies, and goals.
• Don’t leave conflicts unresolved.

Creating A Checklist For A Healthy Relationship

Any healthy, happy, and successful relationship consists of several essential elements that allow you and your significant other to overcome any difficulty that might arise in your relationship without betraying your values and principles.

Your checklist for a healthy relationship should include the following elements:

1. Trust

You and your partner need to be able to trust each other fully. Since lack of trust in a relationship leads to feelings of uncertainty, fear, and doubt, which can negatively affect your connection.

2. Communication

If you and your partner aren’t able to express your feelings and opinions openly, this can lead to serious problems in the relationship.

3. Respect

You and your partner need to respect each other as much as you need to respect yourselves. Only in this way can you meet your needs.

4. Equality

You and your partner need to treat each other as equals. Prioritizing one partner’s feelings, needs, and desires over those of the other leads to a power imbalance, which, in turn, can gradually lead to exploitation. 

5. Honesty

Only when you and your partner are entirely honest with each other will you be able to fully trust, respect, and love each other.

6. Compassion

You and your partner need to be compassionate towards each other so that you can deal with misunderstandings and problems and resolve arguments without fearing that this might harm your relationship.

7. Personal Space

If you want your relationship to last, you and your partner need to respect each other’s need for personal space.

10 Important Rules For A Healthy And Long-Lasting Relationship

If you want to avoid making serious mistakes in your relationship, you need to follow the following 17 rules:

1. Don’t give your partner the silent treatment.

2. Don’t mention your ex-partners.

3. Don’t leave problems unresolved.

4. Always have open and honest communication.

5. Be often affectionate towards your partner.

6. Don’t curse at your partner.

7. Spend quality time with your partner.

8. Don’t keep score, particularly for unimportant things.

9. Stick with your partner through thick and thin.

10. Accept your partner’s imperfections.

11. Respect your partner’s boundaries.

12. Show interest in your partner’s likes and hobbies.

13. Don’t say mean personal things to your partner.

14. Forgive and forget.

15. Keep your promises.

16. Don’t have conflicts in the bedroom.

17. Don’t make threats.

What Are The Benefits Of Healthy Relationships?

Healthy relationships can benefit you in the following ways:

• Make you feel happier and more fulfilled.
• Make you feel more satisfied with your life.
• Improve your confidence.
• Increase your sense of self-worth.
• Inspire you to learn more about yourself.