Flair Magazine Pandemic or not, some relationships are just not meant to survive. In reality, sometimes it’s neither partner’s fault. It could be fate, be toxicity or mere incompatibility. It’s no lie that long-term love requires effort, attention and a lot of care from both sides in order to flourish and become worth it in the end. Relationships need to be healthy, not only to survive but also to create the room for both partners to grow, develop, explore and thrive. In hopes of cutting through any doubts you might have about your relationship, here are seven signs you’re in a healthy relationship.
Trust
It all starts with the trust you put in the person you’re partnering with and the amount of confidence you have in them. Feeling safe around your partner and feeling like you can always count on them is very important in a relationship; it is a huge sign you’re in a healthy relationship because it allows you both to have personal space and inner peace.
Support
Where there is trust, you also find support. Believing in someone naturally means you truly support them and they feel the exact same way about you. It’s always an excellent sign when partners always support and comfort each other, as well as choosing to be there for the good and bad times. An even greater sign is when a partner inspires, encourages and pushes you towards success and further growth, since that means they really believe in you.
Equality
Love is a give and take process; we wouldn’t encourage you to exert more effort than is being shown to you; if you’re giving way more than your partner, it can slowly drift to compromise and become overwhelming. Therefore, it is so important that you, as well as your partner, both have a say in the relationship; no one has the upper hand or the lower hand. You are meant to be going higher with this relationship hand in hand – making decisions together, sharing, collaborating and viewing each other as equals.
Being Yourselves
Bruno Mars said it first but loving a person just the way they are requires them to show up as who they really are. In the presence of trust, comfort, support and love, it will be easy and natural to really be yourself unapologetically around your partner and vice versa. Never customize yourself according to your partner’s likes or interests. If they’re not with you for who you really are, then you’re probably wasting your time with them. Be honest about your likes, dislikes, hobbies, interests, the movies you love, your music taste and everything that makes you- you.
Communication
Good communication is always the key. It’s always the golden rule. Never assume and always communicate. Arguments are a part of every relationship but only healthy ones have fair and sensible ones; this means no name-calling, no manipulation, no secrets and no placing blame. Gas lighting is never a sign for a healthy relationship. Being vocal and expressive about your thoughts and emotions around your partner and vice versa is one of the best signs anyone could ever ask for.
Fun
Love should be fun. It shouldn’t look like exhaustion, fighting 24/7 or holding back. Aside from being real and vulnerable, partners should enjoy themselves and each other’s company. If you don’t experience that often, it’s probably not the healthy relationship you want to aim for. When fun is present, happiness follows doubtlessly. And that’s an aspect that every couple should have and steward in their relationship.
Respect
At the end of the day, respect is one of the basic elements in building a relationship. Showing respect usually encourages respect. Valuing and crediting each other are always a great sign that you’re walking on the right track. Earlier, we talked about essentially being yourselves in a relationship. With that said, you can also set boundaries regarding what you’re both comfortable with, and those limits should be respected at all times.
By Nouran Hassan
