Do you know what makes a good relationship? Whether you’ve just started dating or you’ve been together for years, keeping the spark alive takes effort. Communicating, nurturing self-love, and trust can all help to strengthen your bond with that special someone.
Every relationship goes through rough patches. But, you can set yourself up for success by understanding the qualities of a healthy partnership. Here’s our advice on what makes a good relationship that you can use to help you to thrive as a couple.
What Makes a Good Relationship?
1. Communication
Communicating with your loved one isn’t always easy, especially if you’re feeling angry or upset. Take the time to listen to your partner to find out what their needs are. When they feel heard and understood, it’s easier to navigate conflict in your relationship. Express your feelings honestly and without blame so that they know how you feel too.
Complimenting your partner and asking them constructive questions, can also help to improve communication. Take the time to tell your partner how much you appreciate them. It’ll be worth it.
2. Self-love
If you’re trying to understand what makes a good relationship, learning to love yourself is a good starting point. Self-love makes it easier to build a caring relationship where you both feel valued. When you love yourself, it’s possible to let your guard down and allow your partner to get to know the real you.
Being authentic can be scary but if you love yourself, you’ll want to find a partner who cherishes you, for you. You can nurture self-love by setting boundaries and being kind to yourself.
3. Trust
Trust takes time to build but just a moment to break. Avoid lying to your partner as even small lies slowly erode the trust in your relationship. Telling the truth can lead to conflict but the benefits of being honest make it worthwhile.
If we’re being real, we’ve all felt jealous when we’re dating someone that we’re really into. But if you’re constantly jealous and suspicious of your loved one, it can harm your relationship. Trust goes both ways and you need to learn to believe in the loyalty of your partner once you’ve gotten to know them better.
4. Quality time
Chances are that when you started dating, you spent plenty of time getting to know your new crush. Over time, it’s easy for couples to end up doing fewer and fewer activities together until it starts to damage their relationship.
Rather than letting the spark slowly fade, make a date night each week, turn off your phone, and do something fun together. This is your chance to relax and reconnect with your loved one without any distractions. Movie nights, romantic dinners, and weekend adventures are all opportunities to spend quality time together.
5. Teamwork
When thinking about what makes a good relationship, working together with your partner is an important point. If you consider yourself a team, you can tackle life’s challenges as a couple rather than arguing about them. Life is full of ups and downs and it’s easier to get through the rough patches with your partner by your side.
Ask them what kind of support they need and reach out when you need help as well. By letting your partner know that you’re there for them, you’ll make them feel valued and appreciated.
6. Celebrate
It’s not only about supporting your partner during the bad times, you need to be there for them during the good times too. When your partner has good news, celebrate it. Respond to your loved one’s achievements enthusiastically and enjoy their success together with them. Try surprising them with a special dinner or gift to honor the occasion. Remember, the small wins matter too so be sure to let that special someone know that you’re proud of them.
7. Interdependence
Couples who’re in good relationships enjoy spending time together but still maintain some of their independence. One person can’t meet all your needs, so make sure that you’re taking care of yourself and spending time with your bestie for extra support.
Your hobbies and passions are part of what attracted your partner to you in the first place so don’t give them up when you start a new relationship. Continue to pursue your dreams while building a life together with your loved one.
Build Your Relationship Together
Now that you understand what makes a good relationship, you can strengthen your bond with your partner. A thriving connection with your loved one will be the reward that you need. After all, you deserve a healthy relationship!
