What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like?

Do you know a couple who are completely relaxed together? They don't have to be wearing matching sweaters to show that they're together, it's just obvious -- even when they're standing at opposite sides of the room. Do they mingle separately and yet occasionally share a smile that cuts out the rest of the crowd? This is a healthy relationship.

A healthy relationship isn't necessarily one where the couple is joined at the hip. Not everyone is tactile and enjoys that kind of closeness. Nor does everyone have a wish to be publicly affectionate. Nor is every couple who are physically affectionate in a healthy relationship because there's a lot more to it than that.

So, are you and your partner in a healthy relationship? Well there are a number of things to look at:

1. Are you and your partner happy and relaxed in each other's company?
2. Are you mutually supportive?
3. Do both of you make an effort to keep your relationship sparking?
4. Are you both secure in the relationship?
5. Is it an equal partnership with no fight over control?
6. Is there a 100% trust between you?

A healthy relationship isn't one where a couple sits together and ignores everyone else. Often this is the start of a relationship but once the initial newness wears off, the relationship should mature into one where a couple can socialize separately at a party, without worrying if their partner is chatting someone else up, or if they are talking negatively about them. A healthy relationship is also about being secure in the knowledge that your partner will always have your best interests at heart. They will respect your right to a different opinion from them, and even though they may disagree with you about something in private, they won't make you look bad by raising the issue in public.

Think about your relationship with your partner. Do you make decisions together, or does one of you tend to do the decision making? If it's left to one of you, is this by mutual consent or it one of you more controlling than the other? Do you trust your partner implicitly? Does your partner support your dreams? Do they keep your secrets? Do you feel safe with them knowing intimate details about your life? Do they fill you with confidence? Do you respect your partner? Think about the responses your partner would have to these questions. In a healthy relationship the answer to each would be 'yes' -- because all of these add up to the fact that you love each other on a deeper emotional level rather than just a physical one.

About The Author-- Jane Saeman runs a site called along with info on dating and relationship on her blog at at http://www.Hot-Firefighters.com/blog2

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