Relationships are a huge part of everyone’s life and are important for our mental and physical health. Different relationships provide us with a variety of benefits including support and guidance that can help us through difficult times. Research has shown that having close relationships adds years to our lives and can help us cope with stress.
In a healthy relationship, the people in it are mutually supportive and devoted to one another. They communicate openly and effectively, both verbally and non-verbally, and can share emotions with each other. They respect each other’s boundaries, and both parties can agree to disagree without causing pain or offense. They also respect each other’s friends and treat them with care and dignity.
A healthy relationship is not about putting your own needs ahead of the other, but rather working together to achieve common goals and meet challenges. It involves sharing responsibilities and supporting each other’s dreams and ambitions. A true partner should bring out the best in you and make you smile, and feel a fire in your belly when they are around.
The way a couple shows affection for each other should be based on how they feel about each other, and not on a specific ritual or calendar event. If they are genuinely happy to be with each other, they should express it freely. They should enjoy spending time with each other, both alone and with their friends. They should be affectionate towards each other — kissing and hugging, and, if it’s appropriate, intimate (physical contact and sex). They show their appreciation and love for each other by doing things like saying “I love you” regularly, and making sure that the other knows that they are loved.