How Do I Move Forward in a Healthy Relationship?
Ask any couple that has been together for a long time: relationships are hard work. Healthy relationships require care and maintenance in order to stay positive. Communication is the key to progressing in a healthy relationship; it is the barometer for how you both are feeling and how you express emotions to each other. Good communication even includes healthy arguments, so feelings can be aired without hurting each other in an irreparable way and you can find yourselves moving past disagreements and moving forward in a healthy relationship.
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Instructions
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Keep the lines of communication open. Be an active listener. Hear and process what you're hearing when your partner talks to you and don't speak until she's finished talking. If you misunderstand or missed part of what your partner said, ask for clarification.
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Pursue self-fulfillment. A partner can bring happiness into your life, but true happiness occurs when you are satisfied with your personal pursuits as well. Continue activities that you enjoyed before you were with your partner and coordinate time with friends or to simply be alone with your thoughts. Allow your partner time to pursue his own self-fulfillment as well.
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Be affectionate with your partner. Letting your partner know, physically or verbally, how much she means to you is essential to moving forward in a healthy relationship.
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Be aware of each other's needs. Let your partner know what you need and expect from a relationship and ask your partner about his expectations. Do your best to meet these needs and work out a compromise if a desire arises that one of you cannot fulfill.
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Be polite. Partners need to feel appreciated and respected for a healthy relationship to move forward. Say "please" and "thank you," apologize when you are wrong and perform simple courtesies like holding the door and helping each other carry heavy bags.
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Fight fair. Avoid raising your voice and name-calling during arguments. If you are too angry and feel like you cannot stay calm, tell your partner and agree on a designated "time out," where you can walk it off or sit in your room and diffuse your frustration. Agree on a time when you can revisit the argument in a clear-headed way. When revisiting the argument, avoid "you" statements, as they will make your partner feel defensive. Tell your partner how you feel with "I" statements; for example, "I felt like I was being attacked for not taking out the garbage on time," instead of, "You were attacking me when you asked me to take out the garbage."
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