There are plenty of articles out there about how to avoid a toxic relationship, how to move on from an ex, and red flags in dating. However, there seems to be a gap when it comes to information on how to establish a healthy relationship.
Healthy relationships are possible, but it requires a bit of work on the part of both you and your partner. It’s certainly not as easy as scheduling a minimally invasive bunion surgery.
That’s why we’re here to help you out by offering a list of 5 ways to build a healthy relationship.
Love Yourself First
The most important thing you can do to build a healthy relationship is to first build a healthy relationship with yourself.
If you don’t love yourself, then how can you expect to fully love someone else? When you struggle to have a sturdy, solid relationship with yourself, you run the risk of codependency.
Instead of loving your partner for who they are, you rely on your partner to make you feel whole.
This inevitably leads to issues within the relationship down the line, as it’s not your partner’s responsibility to make you feel whole.
Communicate Effectively
Healthy relationships require that both partners learn how to communicate with one another.
A lack of effective communication is one of the main reasons that relationships end. However, it’s completely preventable as long as you learn how to communicate with your partner.
Every person has their own communication style, and as long as you and your partner both have the desire to learn how each of you receive and give information then you’re on the right track towards building a healthy relationship.
Learn to Manage Conflict
Conflict is inevitable, even in healthy relationships. It’s not about avoiding conflict altogether, it’s about learning how to effectively manage conflict when it arises in your relationship.
Oftentimes, we are incredibly reactive when met with something we don’t agree with. That’s why one of the best ways to manage conflict is to pause before you respond to your partner.
Seek to understand them and always remember that you’re both on a team to find a resolution to a problem that’s beneficial for you both.
Seek Their Perspective
We all view the world through our personal lens, and it’s no different when it comes to you and your partner. A healthy relationship requires that both partners understand the perspective of one another.
The only way this can be done is through expressing how you view something and creating a safe space for them to explain how they view things.
If you reject your partner’s perspective, then you’re setting yourself up for the relationship to fail.
It Requires Both of You
A healthy relationship is possible, but it requires understanding, love, and acceptance from both parties in the relationship.
Even if you follow this advice, if your partner doesn’t do the same, the relationship can never truly fully develop into a fulfilling and healthy one.
