A safe and healthy relationship is based on mutual respect, trust, and partnership – so that both sides feel comfortable and happy. In such relationships, partners can talk to each other about anything and share their concerns and happiness.
In a relationship, there is generally a strong sense of intimacy between the two people. Intimacy, which means that both of you want to be in this relationship and share your love, affection, and hugs with each other, and that both of you feel good. Respect for individual decisions and choices, and complete trust in each other’s willingness to share your daily joys and tackle your problems together are also essential.
Signs of a strong and healthy relationship:
- Honesty. Be honest with and trust your partner. Lies and a lack of transparency will only cause tensions and complications in the relationship.
- Trust. Being able to talk to each other about anything and anyone, in absolute confidence, brings both partners a sense of well-being.
- Respect. Accept each other’s personal qualities, character, and views. These are the things that are most difficult to change about yourself, so as a partner it is best to accept and take each other just as you are.
- Responsibility. Everything you say should come from your heart. If you have hurt your partner through words or with your behaviour, it is only natural to apologise and ask forgiveness.
- Loyalty. In a committed relationship, people confide in each other and should feel no need to suspect each other’s actions or lack of loyalty.
- Communicating with each other. If you can discuss everything without problems, good things and bad, then you have a healthy relationship.
When being in the relationship feels bad or you feel that you must behave in a way or do something you would rather not – you should take it as a warning sign. For instance, it is not a good sign if one partner imposes his or her own opinions or attitudes, takes too much interest in their partner’s movements, or is violent. Forcing someone to have sex is violence too. If you experience violence of any kind in your relationship, you should break it off.
The best way to resolve any issues that can arise in a relationship is to talk to each other openly and to work out the misunderstandings and problems. It can sometimes be difficult to talk about problems – you feel insecure and miserable and feel you might hurt your partner. In this case, it is possible to turn to, for example, the Youth Counselling Centre, a relationship counsellor, or another professional who can help you find a solution.
Prepared by the youth information portal Teeviit using One Love Foundation www.joinonelove.org material.
One Love educates young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better.
The article was published in 2022.
