6 Signs Your Relationship is Healthy (vs. Unhealthy)

Love can be a safe place.

In a world where casual relationships have become the norm in dating, finding a genuine and healthy connection is rare and increasingly precious.

Having a secure romantic relationship positively and profoundly impacts your overall well-being, as well as your personal development and self-confidence. Because we all want that, it is easy to fool ourselves that our relationship is going well. But how can we know whether it is a source of growth and joy or a potential pitfall of sadness and insecurity?

In this article, we’ll explore six key signs that differentiate a healthy relationship from an unhealthy one.

#1: Their intentions are clear from the begininng, which makes you feel secure.

vs. Their intentions are unclear, which makes you feel insecure.

Nowadays, people try to check out all the possible options before settling down. And there are lots of options out there.

Emotionally stable and healthy persons do not have a problem risking getting hurt or showing you they are sure about you.

I’m not saying someone is healthy just because they have clear intentions. Sometimes, it can be a sign of desperation and emotional imaturity. But when it comes together with other green flags, it is usually a good sign.

#2: Your values align and complete each other in the long term. You know some changes and compromises are needed, but you are both motivated to do them.

vs. Your values cannot coexist in the long run, which makes the future look complicated.

You feel like a change is needed for you to stay together. One of you has to compromise something essential to them.

e. g. Your dream is to promote veganism, but your partner doesn’t eat vegetables at all and is against veganism. You can’t even stand the smell of meat, but your partner only eats meat.

The joy that comes with shared values is so fulfilling. Knowing that the other person is there to support you in your growth and you are also there for them is comforting.

#3: They are open to you. You trust them completely whenever they are away.

If they don’t answer immediately, you assume they are busy with something or didn’t hear your call. You only get worried if they don’t answer for a long time.

vs. They always seem to hide something. You don’t trust them at all when they are alone. You get anxious when they don’t answer your calls immediately.

Trust is something that gets built over time.

Sometimes, you can get easily anxious due to your past painful experiences or due to your personality. In this case, it’s crucial to be self-aware and work on becoming more secure. But if you have solid reasons to be worried and the person keeps showing you more, this is not a good sign.

#4: Even if you feel better when together, you are also motivated when apart and can function normally.

We all know that falling in love often comes with a sort of obsession for the loved person. It might seem that you only want to spend time with your loved one and ignore the rest of your family and friends. This rush of feelings is not necessarily bad, but when it becomes like an addiction that prevents you from doing your usual tasks, this can be a red flag.

vs. You feel high whenever you spend time together but empty and unmotivated when you are apart like you cannot function properly.

#5: They show you consistent love through their actions and words.

Usually, one of the partners is more emotionally stable than the other. One problem is when the other partner hurts through their hot and cold behavior and gives mixed signals. However, when both partners display emotional inconsistency, the relationship is fragile.

vs. They either do not show emotion, bombard you with feelings, or are hot and cold.

#6: They are willing to change in some ways, and you can notice a difference in their behavior after you point out your expectations.

vs. They are unwilling to change, or even if they say they are, you cannot see any difference in their behavior.

In conclusion, a healthy relationship should have clear intentions, compatible values, trust, motivation, emotional consistency, and willingness to change.

However, keep in mind that all relationships have their struggles. The most important thing is that both people involved are committed to being the best version of themselves for the other person.

Notes: If you are interested in improving your relationship, learn more about it in the following article. If you believe your relationship is unhealthy and want help, please seek professional advice from a relationship therapist.