While every relationship is unique, all healthy relationships share certain common traits no matter who you love, the history you have together, or how you met. The traits that make up a healthy relationship include communication, trust, growth, intimacy, and more. Regardless of how long your relationship is, working on these traits can significantly benefit your relationship.
- YOU NEED TO LOVE YOURSELF FIRST
You’ve probably heard the phrase “like attracts like.” This is the principle of attraction – people attract the things that they focus on and surround themselves with – and this also applies to relationships and to life in general. When you have a positive mindset, are living passionately, and are kind and accepting to yourself and those around you, you will attract others who do the same. Accepting and loving yourself is not always an easy thing to do. First, you have to identify and get over your limiting beliefs and rewrite your identity narrative to give yourself strength and confidence. However, this is a crucial first step when it comes to maintaining a healthy relationship.
- IMPROVE YOUR STANDARDS
If you want to have a healthy relationship, it is essential that you hold yourself to high standards. When you have low expectations and aren’t making enough effort to improve with your partner, you will end up in a stale and failing relationship. You need to carefully consider things like, what standards would you hold your dream partner to? What exactly do you want from your relationship? What are your expectations in terms of physical and emotional support? Regardless of what they are, you also need to hold yourself to these standards. Remember, you also have an active role to play in your relationship, so, however, you’d expect your partner to treat you the same way you treat them.
- MIND YOUR PARTNER’S KEY NEEDS
A healthy relationship involves making your partner’s needs your own. The more you are mindful of your partner’s core needs, the more fulfilling and healthy your relationship will be. Think about what their core needs are; maybe it is security, comfort, significance, and so on. Next, you need to think about how they want these needs met, whether it is through words, touch, or something else.
Nurturing the skill of heartfelt understanding is key to a healthy relationship. You need more than just understanding your partner’s needs at an intellectual level. Thus, it is crucial that you connect with them at a deeper emotional level and empathetically put yourself in their shoes. Consider whether your partner is your most important priority, what is it that you would give for that person you love, and if the relationship is making you feel personally fulfilled.
- EXERCISE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Effective communication is key to maintaining a healthy relationship. Understanding what your partner’s needs isn’t rocket science, and they’ve most probably explained to you. Effectively communicating in a healthy relationship involves listening. You have to keep in mind that it’s not all about you – it is about what you can do for the love of your life. Take a look at these gifts for your husband.
After you have identified what both your needs are, actively work to ensure that they are being met. When you are deeply in love with someone, you are willing to do anything for them. By taking care of your better half’s core needs, you will be able to attain profound levels of love, passion, happiness, and trust.
- GROW TOGETHER
You may be wondering, what if our future path is filled with challenges? Tony suggests that each and every problem is a gift, as, without problems, it would be hard for us to grow. Problems, challenges, and misalignments should be treated as opportunities to help us push forward and improve yourselves as a couple.
The lack of growth also referred to as stagnation, can lead to deterioration when it comes to a relationship. Growth often results from uncertainties and an act of moving into uncharted territories. Discomfort isn’t always a bad thing; thus, you should never let fear hold you or your relationship back.
- ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR DIFFERENCES
You shouldn’t ignore or underplay the differences that exist between you and your partner. Rather, embracing these differences helps to maintain a sense of excitement in the relationship. Remember that these small differences are what aroused your interest in each other, to begin with. Appreciating each other’s differences will not only help you appreciate the life that you’ve built together, but it will also help you find joy in it.
- CREATE TRUST
All healthy relationships are built on trust. Trust brings forth respect, both of which are crucial for interaction, sharing, and growth. And it is during those challenging times, when your commitment to one another is put to the test, that you get to learn just how much or how little you trust each other.
Important things that you need to think about include if your partner can trust you to always have their backs even during times of stress and uncertainties if they can trust you to be honest with them, even if whatever you have to say might end up hurting them, and if they trust you to meet their needs.
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