It's such a wonderful feeling to feel and to be loved by someone who you also love and care about. However, a relationship is more than just love. Love is one of the many minimum requirements in a relationship and if you want it to flourish, you need to put in as much work as possible. There are so many other factors that come into play to ensure that the relationship creates room for you to be happy and healthy. Here is a list of signs that will help you tell if you are in a healthy relationship.
Friendship
You and your partner should be the best of friends. This makes it very easy for you to play around, joke around and enjoy being your authentic selves. Some situations in a relationship, as you may have noticed, require friendship. You can't be serious all the time and be thinking of complex things consistently. You need to genuinely enjoy each other’s company and build on your friendship to strengthen your relationship.
Flexibility
What's a healthy relationship without a little compromise here and there? You should have a flexible relationship so that everything doesn't seem monotonous for the duration of your love story. Be flexible, get out of your comfort zone and find time to delve into spontaneous moments. On certain occasions, switch it up and surprise your partner by doing something you usually wouldn't. Also, keep in mind that situations vary and circumstances may force you to switch roles. Just adapt to whatever comes together with your partner. An example could be your partner, who is usually the cook, getting sick. Be ready to take that role and assume it so that your lives are not stalled unnecessarily. Remember, you will face many different situations. The only way you can successfully peddle through is by being.
Support
A healthy relationship should have strong support systems. When other people choose to not be there for your partner, be there for him or her. This does not only make them a better version of themselves, giving them the strength to work harder, but it also gives them the assurance they need to pursue whatever they need support with. Remember that support may be financial or emotional. If the financial factor is not there, just be emotionally there for your partner. This will make your connection stronger, better and more viable.
Value Alignment
If you want your relationship to be healthy, your values need to be aligned. This area is a no-compromise area as it is extremely necessary for you and your partner to agree on your main values as this will determine the direction of your relationship as well as how you will handle your relationship. If your values are not signed, one or both of you may become bitter or feel suffocated. An example is dating someone who doesn't believe in the same religion as you. This is a very big aspect of your life, and if you can't agree on it and can't have common ground, then the relationship becomes unhealthy. Ensure that your values are aligned if you want a healthy relationship
Having Healthy Boundaries
All healthy relationships should have healthy boundaries. This is when you and your partner equally respect each other’s personal space and understand each other’s limits. Your partner should not push you into behaviors and tendencies that aren't comfortable for you unless it is for your benefit. At the beginning of the relationship, talk about everything, including what you tolerate. Your partner should be able to respect these boundaries for you to maintain a healthy relationship.
Shared Responsibilities
One of the most important things when you are in a relationship is making sure that you equally divide the workload. Let's face it, a relationship takes a lot of work, time and resources. The only way you can enjoy your relationship is by sharing the duties that are in the relationship and ensuring that each one of you plays a part by putting in the work for the relationship. Divide your responsibilities well if you want a healthy relationship.
Enhanced Growth
A healthy relationship gives room for growth and allows you to become better versions of yourselves than you were when the relationship started. Your partner should water you and likewise, you should water them as well. This makes you experience growth in both you and your partner. Otherwise what good is a relationship if you remain stunted or if you start becoming a worse version of yourself? Be with someone who helps you grow as this is a sign of a healthy relationship.
Affection
Physical and emotional affection are a requirement if you want a healthy relationship. We all need warmth, care and love and for us to know that these things are present, our physical and emotional needs should be met. Small acts of affection like hugs, kisses and affirmation are important as they help you and your partner to continuously feel loved. You also need kindness as a form of affection in your relationship as this will help deepen your connection, making it better thus a healthy relationship.
Quality Time
This is when you and your partner get to have the time to update each other on your life, feelings as well as whatever may be going on around you. Quality time helps deepen your connection and it also helps you to keep in touch with your feelings. If you are in a healthy relationship, you will make time to talk, play or do whatever. As long as that’s what makes you happy, make time for it and enjoy each other’s company whenever you can.