Whether you’ve been in a relationship for a few years or only a few months, it’s important to be sure that your relationship is healthy. We often hear about red flags, but what about green flags—the signs that your relationship is strong, supportive, and built to last? Healthy relationships are created through mutual respect, communication and trust. In this blog, we’ll look at the key indicators of a healthy relationship and how to know if you’re on the right track.
You Feel Safe to Be Yourself
“Just be yourself” is a phrase that we hear all the time. However, it means more than you may think. If you feel like you need to put on a persona every time you’re with your partner, this is an indication that you don’t feel safe to be who you are. Pretending to be someone different can be draining and damaging to a relationship.
It’s important that you feel completely comfortable to be yourself with no worry or concern. You shouldn’t feel like you’re not good enough. If you feel confident in who you are, then that is a sign that your self-worth is thriving in your relationship.
You Have Good Communication
Healthy communication is key to a relationship’s success. It’s important to be able to communicate well with your partner. Holding things back or not expressing how you feel can be very damaging to a relationship. If you feel that you can openly express how you feel to your partner and be genuinely heard by them, then you’re on the right track. This leads to our next point.
You Feel Safe To Speak Up
In your relationship, do you feel safe to speak up about potential conflicts or disagreements? If not, then you may have unhealthy communication. You should always be able to bring up certain topics to your partner without any fear of retaliation.
Arguments and disagreements are a part of every relationship–it’s how those arguments are handled that matters. Working through disagreements with mutual understanding and respect is a key part of a healthy relationship.
If you ever feel physically unsafe around your partner or are experiencing any abuse, it’s important to tell someone and get help immediately.
You Have Healthy Boundaries
In a healthy relationship, both people know and respect each other’s boundaries. Ignoring those boundaries and pushing the other person past them is one of the fastest ways to destroy trust and respect in your relationship. They are three key things when it comes to boundaries: knowing yourself, communicating your expectations, and holding your ground. If your partner doesn’t take your boundaries seriously, this is a huge red flag for your relationship. You should feel safe to talk openly with your partner and know that they will respect the boundaries you have set and feel comfortable with. If your partner respects those boundaries, then you can know that they also respect you.
You Have Realistic Expectations
Unmet expectations can damage a relationship as frustration builds and communication erodes. It’s important to be honest about what you want and need in your relationship, as well as what your partner wants and needs. As the relationship moves farther along, having this discussion can often eliminate future resentment and pain.
If you don’t communicate what you want but get upset at your partner for not doing it, you can cause bitterness in the relationship that never had to be there in the first place.
You Trust Each Other
Without trust, there is no healthy relationship. You need to know that your partner is always there for you, just as they need to know that they will get that same support in return. Trusting each other can look like:
- Respect each other’s privacy and personal space
- Never questioning their motives without good reason
- Trusting them to talk kindly about you when you’re not around
- Knowing that they will never push you past where you are comfortable
Trust is the foundation of every relationship! Make sure that you feel you can trust your partner completely.
After reading through these six points, evaluate your relationship and decide if you think it’s healthy. Maybe there was a point that you feel your relationship can improve. If so, talk with your partner so you can grow your relationship together!
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Cathy Seapy
CEO
This blog has been reviewed and approved by our CEO.
Tanya Wonderly, RN