Our lives are built around the relationships we cultivate along the way. You’ll never be in a position to have a flawless relationship, but healthy relationships are crucial in life.
The relationships you have with those around you have the power to enrich or taint your life, and not everyone is self-aware enough to understand the signs of an unhealthy connection.
Make certain that you’re surrounding yourself with healthy connections, and learn a few of the good and bad things to look out for in a relationship.
Signs that your relationship may not be healthy
- Intensity – Extreme feelings or a sense of rushing the relationship isn’t a great sign.
- Jealousy – Jealousy in and of itself isn’t bad, but when your relationship is controlled by jealousy it’s unhealthy. We all get a little pouty here and there, but healthy minds keep it under control.
- Volatility – If you constantly fear your partner’s reaction to bad (or even unfavorable) news, then you’re not in a good place. Domestic violence is an epidemic, and more people should open their eyes to the true definition of abuse.
- Deflecting responsibility – When you’re in a relationship with someone who refuses to take responsibility for their part in any given situation, it puts an unnecessary strain on the connection. It’s not healthy to constantly feel like you’re to blame or vice versa.
Healthy qualities to find in your relationships
- Comfortable pace – A healthy relationship goes at a pace which is comfortable for all parties involved. It’s not healthy to place pressure on a partner (or friend) to move in with you, take the relationship to the next step, etc.
- Trust – Trust is something built from the very beginning of a connection. If you can trust your partner in the relationship to live their life independently from you and still be completely genuine in the connection, then you’re in a good place.
- Independence – It’s okay to have a life outside of your relationship with your BFF or romantic partner, and a healthy relationship exudes security and individuality. Being “attached at the hip” will eventually place a strain on the relationship.
- Honesty – Complete honesty is crucial to developing many other elements of a healthy relationship. You should be able to tell your partner anything without fear of their reaction. You should have no concerns talking to them about who you’re hanging out with or an interesting encounter with a stranger. When you’re in a friendship, honesty is just as foundational to health.
- Respect – In any type of relationship, there needs to be a mutual respect for one another. Be proud of your friend/partner for their accomplishments, and always cheer them on towards success.
- Equality – Both people in the relationship should invest equally in its sustainability. In a romantic relationship, both partners should feel like they carry the weight of sustaining life equally. No one person should ever carry the other entirely, as it’s a breeding ground for resentment and spite.
- Loyalty – You want to feel like your partner/friend has your back in any situation. You also need to know that they feel some sense of loyalty and drive to be a true blue person to you.
- Communication – You and your partner in any relationship need to have a good sense of communication, or the relationship won’t go very far. If it does continue, it will ultimately lead to feelings of anger and inadequacy.