Ah, love. The star of almost every story. The desire of the human soul. Everyone knows it, but no one sees it the same. Love can come in many forms. It can start off as an intense emotion and later turn into unconditional care. The kind that lasts. Do you know what makes such love possible? Here are the 12 secrets to a healthy relationship:

Give What You Want To Get

You can’t expect too much from someone, even more so if you can’t meet that same expectation. If you want your partner to be sweeter, then you should be sweeter to them first. As the saying goes, it’s all about give and take.

Be Yourself

Your S.O. loves you because you are you. Yes, not that lady on the screen. Not that seemingly perfect woman on the street. You don’t need to be someone else with the person who truly loves you. They like you and all your weird habits (though you might not know it).

Know Each Other’s Needs

There’s no room for selfishness in a relationship. Once you start neglecting the other person, can you still call it a relationship? You are two different people who chose to commit to one another. You need to take care of each other as you would take care of yourselves.

Bond

Make time. Every relationship requires quality time. No matter how busy you are, bonding with your partner is important. Find something you both can enjoy doing together. Simple activities like eating, cooking, working out, or cleaning the house mean a lot when done together.

Understand And Support Each Other

Though you may have many similarities, you’re still not one person. You are two individuals–each with a unique background and personality of their own. Your partner’s interests may not always make sense to you and vice versa. You need to understand each other even when it’s not that easy.

Show Your Affection

Romantic relationships can’t be completely platonic. You can’t treat your partner like your business partner. Come rain or shine, love has to be expressed. Learn your partner’s love language. Do they like gifts? Cuddles? We all have our own.

A healthy relationship is the one in which love enriches you; not imprisons you.”
– Steve Maraboli

Accept Your Partner As They Are

After the honeymoon phase, you begin seeing your S.O.’s true self. Sides of them you’ve probably never seen before nor expected to see. Don’t let the things you don’t like about them overshadow the ones you do. Remember that our ideal men or women might not exist at all!

Always Communicate

Serious misunderstandings can be avoided with simple communication. Always talk it out. No matter how big your fight was, never go to bed angry. Leaving problems unresolved only makes them worse. Difficult situations are normal. They are bound to happen. You can’t overcome an issue by running from it.

Respect Your Partner’s Decisions

Compromise. It’s an essential word in any relationship. You’re no longer the only protagonist of your show. You now have to consider someone else’s thoughts and feelings too. Being in a relationship means including each other in everything that concerns your relationship. Despite how troublesome, you always need to come to an agreement.

Give Each Other Space

Everyone needs time for themselves. A healthy relationship involves giving each other freedom. Let your partner do their own thing while you do yours too. Spending some time apart not only makes the heart grow fonder, it also allows you both to grow even more as individuals.

Try New Things Together

Make your love life exciting. Fun is also essential! Experiencing new things together sparks up your relationship. Try travelling. Ride a rollercoaster. Go on a road trip. What scares you will be less scary when you’re with someone special. An adventure can bring thrill and bring you closer together.

Trust Each Other

Healthy relationships are built on trust. It’s a strong foundation you can’t do without. You can’t really love if you can’t trust. Don’t let insecurities get in the way. Tell your partner about your concerns. You shouldn’t overthink even before you talk to them. Practice being honest with each other all the time.

A healthy relationship is strong. It doesn’t rely on anything temporary. Even when what once felt good no longer does, a real healthy relationship thrives. It finds ways to keep love alive despite the odds. Always try to apply these secrets as much as you can. You never know how much your effort can pay off!

While you’re here, you might wanna check out Signs of Codependency