Relationships
The 7 Qualities of a Healthy Relationship
Being able to say that they’re in a healthy relationship and really mean it is something all couples aspire to.
It’s the kind of bond that remains solid no matter what challenges they face, the kind of partnership that they would want to brag about.
After many years of working with couples with all sorts of dynamics, I‘ve come to the conclusion that there are at least 7 qualities of a healthy relationship.
They serve as a testament to the reality that being in a stable, healthy partnership isn’t just a pipe dream.
- Trust
Having strong and unwavering trust in your partner is important in every relationship. However, it isn’t something that just comes freely. Trust is something that has to be earned.
With trust comes honesty. Both you and your partner need to be honest and transparent with each other. That means no secrets and no lies, especially when you know they could harm your relationship. A lack of trust between partners can be very detrimental to relationships.
2. Open Communication
This helps couples understand each other better, especially when it comes to their goals and expectations. They can build a safe space within their relationship where they can share their thoughts and ideas without the fear of judgment.
Open communication also lets couples be free to give and receive feedback from one another, allowing them to grow and mature together.
3. Mutual Respect
Marty Nemko, one of America’s most eminent career and personal coaches, said that disagreements in a relationship are more likely to be solved when couples have mutual respect for each other’s intelligence, common sense, and benevolence.
Mutual respect is a must in healthy relationships. When you see your partner as your equal, it becomes easier for you to meet them halfway and work with them to build your shared life and future.
4. Emotional Support
Emotional support is what I consider one of the most integral qualities out of the 7 qualities of a healthy relationship. Having strong emotional support lets you know that you’re secure in your relationship. You can be assured that if you fall and break down emotionally, your partner will be there to pick you up and hold you together.
You and your partner need to be each other’s emotional support if you want to have a healthy relationship. By offering love, care, empathy, and compassion, you’re showing your partner that you’ll always be there for them even when things get rough.
5. Compromise
This involves finding ways to agree with one another when you and your partner have different opinions or desires.
Disagreements are normal in relationships, but learning to compromise is what separates a healthy relationship from an unhealthy one. Being able to set aside your own wants to accommodate your partner’s needs not only shows maturity as an individual but also your growth as a couple.
6. Boundaries
A mature discussion of boundaries and deal-breakers, even during the dating stage, is one of the early signs of a good relationship. It’s important to determine what lines shouldn’t be crossed or when something is too much.
Having a clear set of rules in a relationship gives couples the freedom to be themselves and communicate their needs and desires.
7. Forgiveness
It can be difficult to avoid fights in a relationship. Because of differences in personality and preferences, couples will eventually butt heads.
After every fight, it’s crucial to forgive and ask for forgiveness to maintain a healthy relationship.
According to the English poet Alexander Pope, “To err is human, to forgive divine.” It’s quite easy for us to make mistakes but not quite as easy to forgive them. A relationship that practices forgiveness will most definitely be a healthy one.
Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationships
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the qualities that make a healthy relationship, it will be easier for you to determine whether what you have with someone is truly special or not.
An unhealthy relationship is something you should avoid at all costs. It will lack some, if not all, of the 7 qualities of a healthy relationship stated here.
If you really want to make sure your love life is happy and successful, then you’ve got to give yourself the best odds.
References
Nemko Ph.D., Marty. 2022. “The Need for Mutual Respect in a Relationship.” Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-to-do-life/202201/the-need-for-mutual-respect-in-a-relationship.
