How Do You Know If You’re In A Healthy Relationship?
During the beginning stages of every relationship, it’s quite natural to view the world and your surroundings with a pair of blinders on.
You feel giddy, lightheaded and filled with the promise that this may just be it. While those in-love jitters feel wonderful, it’s important to understand that they could also be compromising your ability to determine whether your relationship is as healthy as it could be. The following qualities will help you decide if your relationship is headed down the right path, and if not, what to do about it.
Two people in a relationship need to have mutual respect for one another. This means that each of you must make an effort to understand what makes the other person who they are. You and your significant other need to value each other for your distinct personalities, and not try to change the other to fit your idea of what a perfect boyfriend or girlfriend should be.
Obviously, trust is another important aspect in any relationship. Without trust, love cannot flourish and your relationship will be stuck at a standstill. This isn’t to confuse trust with jealousy, because it’s natural to feel a bit of jealousy in a relationship. However, the way a person reacts towards those jealous feelings are what truly matters in a relationship.
Another key thing to remember is to maintain your own separate lives outside the relationship. Before you became a couple, each of you had your own lives, your own friends and family, and your own activities you liked to do. You don’t need to change that for the sake of your relationship. As a matter of fact, it’s unhealthy to completely turn your life over to your partner as if your other life before ‘couple-dom’ never happened.
Great communication will also tell how healthy your relationship is. With proper communication, you can avoid misunderstandings and doubts throughout your relationship, and will be allowed to speek freely and openly with your partner. Don’t ever bottle up your feelings because you fear your boyfriend or girlfriend will not be receptive to what you have to say. A good partner will give you the time you need to work through your emotions and speak about them when you’re ready.
While these are just a few ideas to determine whether you’re in a healthy relationship or not, they are key qualities every couple must have in order to pull off a successful partnership. Feeling stifled, misunderstood or not getting the respect you deserve are causes for alarm, and need to be adjusted in order for a healthy relationship to prosper.
Relationships take work, and if you’re willing to invest the time and effort into making your relationship as great as it can be, it won’t be a surprise when it turns out better than expected.
© Copyright 2007 Blindigo Magazine | Article written by Denise Shively
