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The 5 Fundamental Ingredients of Healthy Relationships

The 5 Fundamental Ingredients of Healthy Relationships

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Relationships are work. Whether familial, platonic or romantic, building a relationship that lasts takes time, effort and sacrifice. Healthy relationships help the parties involved feel supported and connected yet, maintains their independence. The necessity of building healthy relationships can’t be over stressed, as it tremendously improves your state of mind, which in turn greatly affects your day to day activities.

Relationships are varied, and each one is unique, however, there are five fundamental traits that can be applied to every relationship for betterment. These include:

Trust

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Trust is key in any relationship. Merriam-Webster defines it as assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. It is also defined as the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed. By these definitions, it is easy to see why trust is very important in building healthy relationships; if you can’t rely on your lover to treat you with love, kindness and tenderness, if you can’t count on his support, then can it be said that you are in a relationship that edifies you?

Communication & Boundaries

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Communication and boundaries are two major components of a healthy relationship. Communication allows you have a deep understanding of each other, and allows you to connect. Boundaries detail what you are/aren’t comfortable with and gives room for individuality within the relationship. But does this mean you’ll be completely free from conflict? Of course not. It is inevitable. Disagreements in a relationship are not only normal but, if constructively resolved, actually strengthen the relationship. A major reason why communication is so important.

Respect

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The word ‘respect’ literally means “regard,” or “to look back at.” A healthy relationship at some level requires a mutual mirroring of emotions, feelings, and beliefs. Respect says, “What I see in you I hold as just as important as what I see in myself.” You can’t go wrong with respect, as long as the mirror holds firm; nothing is as freeing as knowing that your partner will always hold your views and opinions in high regard, and nothing is more dehumanizing by having core notions you hold being dismissed by the one you love.

See Also

Empathy

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Empathy means being able to identify with or understand the thoughts, feelings or emotional state of another person. There are many definitions for empathy that encompass a broad range of emotional states but based solely on this context, it helps you understand any given situation through someone else’s eyes. Empathy is a valuable tool in conflict resolution, especially in those moments when words aren’t enough.

Self-Love

Before we can exhibit these traits, every one of us must learn to apply each of these qualities to ourselves first and foremost. Only then are we able to enter into relationships with others in the healthiest way possible.

 

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