Building Healthy Relationships

Relationships are the dynamic that keeps our societies alive. A very vital thing, yet unfortunately taken for granted and kept unhealthy most of the time until it fails.

We hear the term "healthy relationship" over and over again, but not many people know how to have one or how to tell if their relationship with others is healthy or not. Although the term has been commonly associated with romantic relationships, it is not limited to them. Instead, we should strive for our relationships to be healthy with all those around us, whether friends or family, so that these relationships do not turn into a source of tension and exhaustion, continuously taking away our energy. Building healthy relationships with others around us is the very first step to success in life because it will shape the way our future relationships will look, whether marriage, friendship, or business. And because establishing healthy rules for the relationship means success for the rest of the relationship, we will mention some of the rules that you must follow to build healthy and peaceful relationships with everyone around you.

What is a Healthy Relationship?

The foundation of any healthy relationship is trust, honesty, open communication, and respect between partners, as well as effort and compromise on both ends. Consequently, there won't be any imbalance of power. Each partner respects the independence of the other, makes their own decisions without fear of retaliation, and shares decisions. When a relationship ends, the other person is not stalked or prevented from leaving. A healthy relationship provides a sense of safety, respect, and acceptance for all people. All of what's mentioned doesn't just apply to romantic relationships, but to all sorts of relationships that any of us might have throughout our lives.

It's important to remember, though, that every relationship is different and people get together for a variety of reasons. A shared vision of what you want to accomplish in the relationship is one way to define a healthy relationship. That can only be discovered if you discuss it deeply and honestly with your partner.

So, to avoid any confusion, let's mention a few of the signs that might help you know what kind of relationship you currently have. These signs are aimed at romantic relationships mainly, but some of them apply to other types of relationships, so pay attention.

Signs of Healthy & Unhealthy Relationships:

Let’s start by listing the good signs first:

1. The Relationship is Built on Mutual Trust:

When you trust your partner, you dodge a lot of bullets and fights that might come your way because of jealousy and suspicion. You won't have to dodge bullets when your partner shows you they're trustworthy. They are reliable and accessible. They will always be there when they say they will, so you don't have to worry. A  trusting partner will give you the freedom and space you need without constantly checking on you. This includes occasionally checking your phone and invading your personal space and privacy.

2. You’re Not Afraid to Speak Your Mind:

Speaking up about how you feel about your partner or about an issue you're having can be difficult. Because you have to come from a vulnerable place, it requires a lot of strength, self-confidence, and courage. You'll be able to be open with your partner if you're in a healthy relationship. Talking is a huge factor in every relationship, so it should never be anything other than easy and comforting.

3. You Can Disagree With Each Other:

People can never be on the same page with each other all the time. It’s completely normal to disagree on things. When you’re on very good terms with your partner, agreeing to disagree comes naturally, smoothly, and in a way that won’t cause you any sort of argument. It all comes down to respecting your partner’s opinions and not belittling them for their personal views and opinions.

Moving on to the bad signs now. If you notice any of these signs in your current relationship, you might have to reconsider everything and discuss the future of the relationship with your partner.

4. You’re Never Trusted:

Accusations, assumptions, suspicions, and a lot worse come with a doubtful partner that questions everything you do and say. Going through your phone would be more than just occasional. Your partner might also keep questioning you and maybe even sometimes follow you around to see if you’re lying or hiding something from them. Never be cool about such behavior; you have to put a stop to it before it even starts.

5. Abuse:

This includes abuse in all its shapes and colors. Your partner will harm you physically, verbally, emotionally, and even psychologically. This includes your partner doing their absolute best to destroy you and break you down so you can always feel inferior to them. Always speak up, and never allow your partner to treat you this way.

6. Dishonesty & Manipulation:

Lying and pulling the strings around to make you do whatever your partner wants you to is what to expect here. Your whole relationship could be built around lies that you haven’t figured out yet. If what you have is all built on lies, you should say something about it. 

So How Do I Build a Healthy Relationship?

Here are some of the best tips we found to help you create and maintain a healthy relationship with your partner:

1. Keep It Real:

No one can be everything we want them to be, so it’s ok to lower our expectations and go easy on our partner.

2. Admit Your Mistakes When You Make Any: 

The very first rule of a healthy relationship is to set your ego aside and just act like a grownup. When you’re too stubborn to admit your mistakes, you start the process of turning your relationship into a toxic one.

3. Talk a Lot More:

Again, talking is more crucial than you might think. Your partner won’t miraculously know everything you’re thinking about all the time. You can’t expect your partner to know you if you don’t allow them to. Talk more and discover each other more, as that always brings back the old, lovely spark anyway.

Bottomline:

Good communication skills are vital to maintaining a healthy relationship. Always remember to get back to improving your skills to keep everything around you smooth.