WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP?

By Callen Winslow

Healthy relationships are essential for a healthy and successful life. Relationships enrich our lives and add to our enjoyment of being alive, but we all know that no relationship is perfect.

What is a healthy relationship?

A healthy relationship is a relationship that is filled with happiness, joy, and — most importantly — love. Humans are designed to relate to others in a positive and enriching way, but sadly, this isn’t always the case. In fact, sometimes, we allow the wrong kind of people into our lives, and our relationship with them isn’t positive, healthy, or edifying; and mostly, it isn’t fruitful either.

According to Dionne Reid, an experienced transformational coach:

A healthy relationship isn’t a perfect destination; it’s a journey of mutual growth, understanding, and respect.

There are a few features of what a healthy relationship looks like:

1. Friendship

Relationship mentor Dionne Reid further shares:

A part of true friendship in a relationship is being a safe place, for one another. It’s very nourishing when there is someone who understands you without needing to say a word.

When you are in a healthy relationship, you see your partner as your best friend. You can tell him or her anything that bothers you. Both of you come up with ideas to solve problems affecting the relationship, whether it’s a partner or the relationship in general. Partners who act as friends and have a strong friendship have staying power. They love each other and also genuinely like each other as best friends. They enjoy spending time together, going on picnics, watching movies, and doing things together. 

2. Effective communication

You are in a healthy relationship when you can openly express your feelings and do not bury hurt or anger. Both of you often deal with situations effectively without wasting time.  

Healthy relationships have good and effective communication structures. Unhealthy relationships have poor communication structures between the partners.

It is a sign that you are in a healthy relationship if you and your partner speak the same language, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. This means that you communicate your needs, desires, griefs, and expectations effectively.

No partner should be timid, shy, or scared about asserting themselves when necessary.

3. Trust and reliability

Trust is the most important element in a relationship, for without trust, there cannot be a healthy relationship. Trust is the most important factor when it comes to determining if a relationship is healthy or unhealthy. You must be able to trust and rely on your partner, and your partner must be able to trust and rely on you.

Both of you should give each other a reason to trust each other.

As an empowerment mentor, Dionne Reid highlights that:

Trust often takes time to build, seconds to break, and a lifetime to repair.

Dependability is the definition of a healthy relationship. Couples in a relationship want to rely and depend upon each other. If partners in a relationship can do what they say and say what they do, it creates an atmosphere of trust and reliability by knowing their words and actions mean something to the other partner. Couples that rely on each other can both breathe a sigh of relief to know their partner has their back.

Here, Dionne Reid mentions:

Consistency in action and words is what gives a relationship its stability and peace.

So, to build trust and reliability in a relationship, do not keep secrets from each other, do not cheat on each other, and most importantly, do what you say and say what you do. In other words, do not make a promise you know you cannot fulfill.

4. Supportiveness

It is a clear indicator that you are in a healthy relationship if your partner supports your individual lives outside the relationship. It is vital in a healthy relationship that you and your partner support each other’s goals and ambitions in life.

Relationships take constant work and require that you and your partner have a willingness and capability to work together, help each other achieve their goals, generate ideas together, and, most importantly, grow in love together. Your partner should advise, work, support, and help you reach the goals you want and the ambitions you are aiming for in your life.

In a healthy relationship, your partner accepts you for who you are. He or she accepts and supports your lifestyle, friends, and family, and most importantly, he is in full support of your goals and ambitions

5. You fight, forgive, and forget each other’s wrongs

In a healthy relationship, conflicts, disagreements, and fights aren’t a deal breaker. Just because you disagree or argue with your partner doesn’t mean that it’s time to just break up and move on. Rather, the conflict is seen as an opportunity to learn more about the other partner and grow together in love and harmony.

Always remember that the one who is much closer to you, whom you love and who loves you is more likely to hurt you because he or she is closer to you than anyone else. No one is perfect, and that includes you. If you know and understand this fact, you should easily forgive each other their mistakes and discrepancies. Forgiving and forgetting means letting go of offenses and hurts, not making snide remarks at them all the time.

Dionne Reid concludes with:

Healthy conflict is a chance to deepen our connection by embracing each other’s vulnerabilities and truths.