Six signs of a healthy relationship

Everyone wants to have a healthy relationship, right?

Being in a healthy relationship is good not only for your physical health but also for your mental health. People who are engaged with healthy relationships have better health outcomes such as having healthy behaviors and decreased risk of mortality.

If you want to have a romantic relationship, most probably you want a healthy one, right?

But what's a healthy relationship, exactly?

Well, it depends. A healthy relationship does not look the same for everyone since people have different needs and wants.

Here are the following characteristics of a healthy relationship, according to Verywell Mind and Healthline:

1. Trust
Trust encompasses honesty and integrity. Avoid keeping secrets from each other.

If your partner treats you right, dependable, and always being there when you need them, most likely you will develop trust.

Building trust needs mutual self-disclosure by sharing things about yourself such as your likes and dislikes. When you and your partner know how to maintain that trust, your relationship becomes a great source of comfort and security.

2. Openness and Honesty
When you are in a healthy relationship, you and your partner are open in talking about things such as your successes, failures, and everything in between.

Even if they have different points of view, they will listen without judgment and give their perspective.

Communication goes both ways. It's important to also feel that they'll voice their own concerns or thoughts as they come up. Despite your indifferences, you and your partner should learn to maintain boundaries. Boundaries do not mean secrecy, they establish that each person has their own needs and expectations.

3. Time apart
While spending time together is very important, it is also essential for you to prioritize spending time alone, pursuing a hobby, or seeing friends or family.

It is better if you balance your time with your partner and time for yourself.

4. Mutual respect
People who are involved with healthy relationships, don't demean or belittle one another and offer support and security.

Couples who love and respect each other know how to; listen to one another, be understanding and forgiving, build each other up, have empathy for another, etc.

5. Good communication
Healthy relationships, whether they are friendships or romantic partnerships, need the ability to communicate well.

It is very important for you and your partner to learn how to resolve serious problems in a peaceful way and make changes that can benefit the future of the relationship.

Avoid personal attacks when you and your partner are in the middle of an argument or disagreement.

6. Physical intimacy
Physical intimacy does not always involve sex. It can be kissing, hugging, cuddling, and sleeping together. Whatever type of intimacy you share, physically connecting and bonding is important.

Healthy intimacy also involves respecting sexual boundaries such as not pressuring partners about sex or specific acts, sharing information about and discussing sexual risk factors.

Healthy and strong relationships should not keep a score or feeling that you owe the other person. You do things for one another because you genuinely want to.

However, this does not mean that give-and-take in a relationship should always be 100% equal. There are times that your partner needs more help and support from you.

Sometimes the imbalances are okay as long as you and your partner are okay with the dynamic and both are having the support they need. (KBAPI)