Top 10 Characteristics of a Healthy Relationship

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Healthy relationship characteristics seem like they should be obvious, but sometimes the line of good and bad can feel a little blurry.

Your relationship with your partner should make you feel loved, secure. Your partner is someone who supports you and has fun with you. Everyone defines healthy relationships differently, but there are some common characteristics that will contribute to a happy union.

Here are 10 signs of a healthy relationship.

1. Mutual respect

Respect is one of the most important healthy relationship characteristics.

It is how you treat one another in your day to day life and it is a big deal. This quality in a relationship allows you to be open and honest with your mate.

Respect for your partner comprises of valuing their needs, feelings, and opinions. You speak kindly to one another, support one another, build each other up, and honor boundaries.

2. Spending time together

When you have free time you look for ways to spend it with your mate. You are eager and open to doing things that they enjoy as well as tending to your own hobbies.

You make time for your mate despite a busy schedule.

Date nights are important the longer you’ve been together, especially if you have children. The time spent alone together as a couple bonds you, builds self-esteem, and brings you closer.

This is a healthy relationship characteristic for those looking to build a lifelong partnership with someone who enjoys your company.

3. Open communication

If you can’t communicate with your partner, what’s the point of being together?

If you’ve ever been in a relationship where one party wasn’t able to communicate their feelings or shut off emotionally or verbally at the first sign of conflict, you know how mind-numbingly frustrating it can be.

Communication is key to healthy relationships. You get to know one another by talking, and the more you talk the more you learn. This is even true of couples who have been together for many years.

Great communication allows you to talk about silly or funny things, personal memories or goals and allows your disagreements to be resolved quickly and with mutual respect.

4. Sexual compatibility

Sexual compatibility is a very important healthy relationship characteristic.

This is because sexuality is inherently a big deal in most relationships. It goes without saying that a couple should have fantastic sexual chemistry inside and outside of the bedroom to start with.

Couples should have an honest discussion about their sexual expectations.

No two people are exactly alike, especially in the bedroom. Everyone has their own sets of needs, kinks, desires, and expectations. This includes how much sex both desire, as well as their needs in order to climax.

Unselfish lovers make for fantastic life-long partners.

5. Support

Couples who support one another show that they are confident in their relationship and give their partners the freedom to be themselves and follow their dreams.

Support is also essential during the hard times that every relationship inevitably hits.

Giving your partner a shoulder to cry on, and celebrating life’s little victories will go a long way in making both spouses happy and content in the relationship.

6. Trust

Trust is a slippery slope in relationships. It’s difficult to get and nearly impossible to gain back once it is lost.

Breaking trust can change your partner’s personality and their behavior towards you.

When you are in a relationship you want to be with someone who will keep your secrets, always be honest with you, have your back, and never betray you. When you trust someone you know they are reliable. You can count on them.

Couples who share mutual trust feel safer both emotionally and physically in their relationship.

7. Confidence

Confidence in your relationship is the key.

Both parties should be crystal clear about how the other one feels about them. This will make them feel secure in the relationship, physically and mentally desirable, and promotes trust and bonding.

Having confidence in your relationship will also allow you to solve problems and communicate better since there is never any fear that your partner will end the relationship just because of a fight.

You are both committed to your relationship and will do anything to make it work.

8. You like each other

This one should go without saying, but there are many couples who love one another but don’t actually like one another.

It sounds complicated but is very common. You may love someone for their qualities and the way they make you feel, but you don’t actually like their personality. You don’t get butterflies or smile when you receive a text from them.

One healthy relationship characteristic is when you actually like each other as well as love one another.  When you have something to do or free time to spare, your mate is always your first choice.

9. Honesty

In order to have an open, trusting relationship both parties need to be practicing honesty.

This doesn’t mean saying unnecessarily mean things to your partner in the spirit of honesty. It means having open and honest discussions about subjects that are hard such as sexual dissatisfaction, life goals, and potential boredom or thoughts of infidelity.

These aren’t easy subjects to broach with someone you love, but consistent honesty will bond you closer together and give you comfort in knowing neither you nor your partner will have to worry about the other breaking their trust.

10. Maintaining individuality

If you dig your partner so much that you want to do absolutely everything with them, that’s great. But it’s equally as important for you to maintain your individuality in a relationship.

This healthy relationship characteristic will ensure that both mates continue to nurture their other relationships, such as those with friends and family. This will give both a diverse and fulfilling social life.

It also allows both parties to pursue new hobbies and friendships.