Every human being longs for the comfort, support, and happiness that comes from a relationship with another person. A strong, healthy relationship strengthens the character of both individuals involved.
Here are 7 rules for a healthy relationship, are you practicing all of them?
1. Never Go to Bed Angry
Fighting is part of growing together. It’s impossible for you both to agree on everything. If you’re frequently fighting with your partner, then it may be a clue to an underlying problem that both of which you are both unaware. However, if you only have the occasional argument, that’s nothing to be concerned with an entirely normal for any couple.
The important thing about fighting is that you never go to bed angry with each other. You’re both adults, so reconcile your differences before going to sleep. Going to bed angry drives a wedge between you that will only get wider.
2. Honesty is the Best Policy
Don’t hide anything from your partner. If your partner finds out you’re not disclosing the full details of your life to them, they will feel that you’ve violated the trust between you. There’s just no way to rebuild that trust, once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. No matter how bad you think your secret is, tell your partner, you may be surprised to learn that they already know what you're disclosing, or that they don’t think it’s as big a deal as you thought.
3. Trust your Partner
Trust is everything in your relationship. No-one likes to be caged up, so allow your partner the freedom to meet other people and develop relationships outside of your own. A study of broken relationships revealed that partners who left the relationship did so because they felt they didn’t have any freedom and their partner was smothering them.
4. Don’t Dig Up the Past
The past is the past, and there’s nothing you can do to change it. So, don’t go digging around your partners past if they feel uncomfortable. Everyone has skeletons in the closet, and the last thing you want to do is create resentment in your partner for not letting go of the past. Don’t let it come back to haunt you. Instead, focus on the future and the life you plan to live together.
5. The Door Swings Both Ways
Give as much as you receive. You both need to share in each other’s experiences, so make sure that you’re supportive of your partner’s decisions in life. If your partner feels like you constantly berate them, they may look elsewhere for the support they need. Be a best friend to your loved one, as well as a romantic mate.
6. Develop a Deep Understanding of Your Partner
Understanding your partner can only happen with time. How much time depends on your attention to your partner and their needs. Find out what makes your partner tick. Indulge their wildest fantasies and dreams and share yours with them as well. Understanding each other develops trust and reinforces the bond between both of you.
7. Create Intimacy Outside of Sex
When you first get together, it’s hard for you to keep your hands off each other. However, when the excitement of the “honeymoon phase” ends, you’re left dealing with a real person, not a sexual fantasy. It’s vital that you both learn to create intimacy outside of the bedroom. Curl up with each other in front of a fire on a winter night and talk about your relationship.
Wrapping Up
Communication is the backbone of any relationship. If you can’t talk to each other, then your relationship will eventually come to a grinding halt. Make sure you spend a few minutes every day talking to each other about your daily lives and concerns for the future. Communication is the key to any healthy relationship.
