Things You'll Need:
- Honesty
- Confidence
- Communication
- 50/50 Sharing
- Play Fair
- Family/Friends/Values
- Respect/Humility
- Active Listening
- Interests/Hobbies
-
Step 1
Follow these "steps" in no particular order as no two people or relationships are the same. It would be wonderful if you can share this article with each other or maybe clip to the refrigerator as a friendly reminder of the type of relationship that you both want to be in.
Confidence: Be confident in your relationship and in your partner. If you are confident in what you have and built together you will feel secure so this will leave a smaller window open for insecurities to creep into your relationship. -
Step 2
Honesty: is key to any relationship. It has been said way too many times that without honesty, you have nothing. This is a very true statement.
Honesty is really the most important thing to have. It is important to be true to each other and open and have enough faith in yourselves and the relationship that you have to be able to get past anything. It is very hard to respect a liar and if you don't trust someone why in the world would you want to be with them? That is what you need to ask yourself. -
Step 3
Communication/Active Listening: Do you know how to communicate your feelings in a healthy way to your partner? Do you feel that your partner not only hears what you are saying when you express yourself but really listens and takes your feelings and thoughts into consideration? Do you show your partner the same courtesy and really listen and take into consideration their feelings when they try to express themselves to you? Do you work together towards an amicable resolution that leaves the both of you satisfied as well as heard and their feelings respected, appreciated and taken into consideration?
When working towards a resolution both of you must leave the situation feeling that you both expressed yourselves and each of your opinions and feelings were respected and considered with an open mind. -
Step 4
50/50: Relationships should be about sharing and playing fair whether it be that you are discussing the family budget, vacation or doing chores you MUST play fair!
If one of you cooks the other should clean up for example. Share responsibilities, chores, and all facets of your life together. You will find that if one person does all/most of the work in the relationship resentment will fester and grow-leaving someone to feel unappreciated or overwhelmed.
Play fair just like you were told as a child-people argue and do not always agree, that's natural-but learn to disagree in a healthy way! Always remember to treat each other as you would like to be treated.
Set ground rules such as:
*NO name calling
*NO cursing
*NO hitting
*NO violence
*NO threatening/degrading sly remarks
*NO bringing up the past
*NO disrespect of each other, family or friends -
Step 5
Respect: Each other for your differences including values, traditions, hobbies/interests, family, friends etc...
Respecting each other as individuals is another key to a healthy relationship. Sometimes people get TOO comfortable with each other and lose respect~
Always show the other not only love but respect too! -
Step 6
Humility: No one is saying lose yourself but...BOTH people need to be willing to show some humility from time to time whether it be to apologize for something said or done. Perhaps you put foot-in-mouth and hurt the other's feelings or made them feel that they or their opinions are not valid?? From time to time we all need to compromise.
You need to be willing to bend and make sacrifices on occasion to working towards a resolution and being able to "make it all better" and move on.
In any healthy relationship both parties need to be willing to compromise and meet in the middle. No one person is wrong all the time the same way no one person can be right all the time! -
Step 7
Interests/Hobbies: It is absolutely wonderful that you may share alot of the same interests but it is important that both of you have separate interests as well. Each of you should have your own friends and make time to be apart just as much as together!
Learn to explore/express yourself and your interests and your own separate individualities and this will bring more to your healthy relationship!!!
Comments
besesitos said
on 9/7/2009 What a Great Article! Great tips!Thanks! Hugs
psychocounselor said
on 4/3/2009 Great article. Many of my clients ask me what a healthy relationship is so your article is very helpful. 5*
ashiflett said
on 11/30/2008 These are the keys to a healthy relationship. Thanks for sharing them with us.
liltrinimama said
on 11/4/2008 I absolutely love this article, it hits every point in which a two people in a relationship together should follow... I really appreciate the fact that you mentioned active listening.. that is a huge part of communication!
pats0814 said
on 10/31/2008 You got all the finer points! Good for you. It's not about that fluff and stuff. It is about who we are on the inside. Keep it up!! 5*****