Relationships are one of the most important aspects of our lives. They can range from close and intimate to distant and challenging. The different types of relationships that we have help to make up our social support network which is vital to our mental and physical health.
A relationship is a form of mutual trust and commitment that enables two people to feel supported and understood. It involves shared values and beliefs, regular interactions, and a sense of community.
When someone is in a healthy relationship, they are with someone that they respect, admire, look up to, love, and care for. They are a team that fights together against life’s barriers, and for their goals and dreams. They are also there for each other when they are down, and they bring out the best in them. Their partner makes them smile when they are sad, understands what they can’t even understand themselves, and can’t wait to get home to them.
In addition to loving and caring for each other, a healthy couple works on the relationship together, learning from one another and growing as individuals. They are not afraid of (respectful) disagreement. They talk things out, and they can disagree without accusation, degradation, or a need to be right. They have interests and hobbies that they enjoy doing together, or they find a hobby that is just for them, such as going to the movies or reading together. They have each other’s backs, but they still spend time with their own friends.