Signs Of A Healthy Relationship

Open And Honest Communication

Communication is, in a lot of ways, directly tied to mutual respect. Do you and your significant other talk about the hard stuff, such as finances, family and the future? Do you remember to ask about each other’s days? Do you address gripes and miscommunications? We all have times when we’re a little self-involved and stressed out, but if you start feeling you and your partner are falling out of touch, check in about why that might be. Open and honest communication is the fuel that drives a relationship. If you are not learning about each other and growing together, you’re probably growing apart. Open and honest communication is about more than words, too: it’s about the how it feels to talk to your partner. There will always be hard talks, but if talking about the hard stuff makes you feel judged, belittled, or ignored, it’s time to move on. Open communication needs respect and empathy to work.

Continue reading to learn about how goals matter in a healthy relationship.

They're Supportive Of Your Goals

It might seem like a no-brainer, but two individuals who don’t like each other’s dreams for the future probably don’t have a long future together. This goes for everything from career goals, to dreams for domestic life, to budgets and habits. The details of these day-to-day goals shape our behavior and make us who we are. In a good relationship, goals complement each other. So, when did you and your significant other last talk about goals? If it’s been a while, it’s never a bad time to check in and find out how your partner’s feeling. Or, if your own goals have changed, or if you’ve made some progress or are having difficulty staying on track, let your partner in on it. If they're supportive of your goals, they are ready to love you for a long time.

Continue reading to learn how responsibility comes into play.