Know Your Relationship (18+)

Article culled from Punch….enjoy it after the cut…

Not all relationships are gratifying. Some can take a toll on your emotional and physical health. These tips will help you determine if your relationship is in good or bad shape

Freedom

In a healthy relationship, partners logically spend a lot of time together yet give each other some personal space. They do this often because they recognise the importance of doing things independently at certain times. The time alone allows the other explore, reflect, and express his or herself individually.

Trust

Great relationships are built on a foundation of trust. Trusting your partner is vital, and it takes time to build. Absolute trust in your partner keeps you in a healthy state of mind and body whilst endearing you to your lover.

Slow and Steady

Most lovers in a healthy relationship are aware of the fact that the best things in life are worth waiting for. That way, they take each milestone in the relationship slow and steady. They savour every moment of building a life together and take the time to celebrate the important occasions in their relationship.

Sincerity

In a healthy relationship, you are open about discussing your fears, strengths, and weaknesses with your lover. Speaking your mind can be incredibly difficult at times, but people in healthy relationships don’t hold back–even when the truth hurts.

Symbiotic

Healthy relationships are built on mutual motivation, respect and inspiration. Your partner should inspire you to be the best you can be, face difficult challenges, and achieve your goals. A healthy relationship is not parasitic in nature.

Compliments

Compliments are never in short supply in a healthy relationship. As the spice in any relationship, nothing gladdens the heart and boosts the morale of your lover like regular and well-crafted compliments.

Acceptance

People in healthy relationships accept each other’s flaws and strengths. This doesn’t mean you should encourage your significant other to accept mediocrity. It does, however, mean you should accept whom your partner chooses to be even as you help them to become the best.

Endurance

A major sign of a healthy relationship is how you support each other during trying times. Don’t be afraid to cry together and experience pain and suffering. The fact that your partner is solidly behind you every step of the way is an assurance that you can surmount any challenge.

Forgiveness

People in healthy relationships know that mistakes and failures are nothing but pathways to attainment. They don’t let past stumbles dictate their current relationship.

Argument

Occasional arguments are a sign of a healthy relationship. Arguing is a sign that you both have your own opinions and are strong enough to stick to them. If there are no arguments, it could be a sign that somebody is hiding something, hiding their feelings, or just not being honest about what they really think.

Identity

In a healthy relationship, each partner is able maintain his or her identity and not lose it. If that happens, you may find yourself being too self-sacrificial and essentially a doormat, not really happy in your situation, and unable to communicate it because you don’t even know what you want anymore.

Privacy

Yes, you are lovers but you are still two separate individuals who have a right to your privacy being respected. This means no snooping around or looking through their phone. Unless they have given you a damn good reason to be suspicious about something, this is a betrayal of trust that healthy couples do not engage in.

Apology

Just because you’re in a good relationship doesn’t mean you’ll never do wrong. Healthy pairs are willing step up to the plate of responsibility and offer a sincere apology and a strategy for not letting the misdeed repeat itself.

Joy 

Healthy relationships are full of laughter and fun. This doesn’t mean there will never be down times or sad times. The fun and joy in a healthy relationship is endless and genuine.