Healthy Relationships

Relationships are a cornerstone of living a full life. Positive relationships help us feel supported and connected to one another, which can have an impact on our mental and physical health.

People in healthy relationships trust each other, and that trust is based on knowing that the other person won’t cheat or lie, hurt them physically or emotionally, and that they have their best interests at heart. They are also respectful of the other’s unique identity and do not try to change who they are as a person just to be in the relationship. They share responsibility for the relationship and take care of it by sharing tasks, finances and decision making.

They encourage those parts of each other’s personality that might be hiding in the background to come out more often. They listen to each other and are supportive of their needs and dreams. They are willing to make sacrifices for the benefit of the relationship and support each other during times of conflict. They are affectionate towards one another and give each other compliments freely. They are willing to be physical and engage in sex when they are both in the mood. They also are not afraid to talk about their feelings and emotions with each other, which is an important part of the emotional connection they share.

There are many types of relationships, from casual and platonic to romantic and committed. Traditionally, specific events such as a wedding or engagement determined the status of a couple, and they would be described as premarital or marital depending on their commitment level. These days, there are no hard and fast rules about what defines a relationship. However, if you’re in a relationship that seems to be stuck in peaceful coexistence, it’s worth considering whether the two of you are truly relating to one another emotionally.