Having a variety of social relationships can help you feel connected to the outside world. Some of these relationships are casual acquaintances, people you might pass in the halls and smile at or say “hello.” Others are more serious, like your friends, coworkers, or family members. In general, you are in a relationship with someone when you share affection, respect, empathy and mutual understanding with that person. You also learn to communicate honestly and openly with each other, which can be difficult at times, but is necessary for a healthy, happy relationship.
In a healthy relationship, both partners care for and love each other, they trust one another, and they make time to spend together regularly. They often have deep conversations about thoughts, feelings, and hopes for the future. They also have an appreciation for each other’s differences and are able to handle conflict without humiliation, degradation or insisting on being right all the time. A good relationship can be therapeutic when life gets tough, and it gives you a sense of stability in the face of change.
Every couple has to cross the creaky, swaying bridge from “unofficial” to “partnered.” It takes time and effort to maintain your relationship’s health, whether it is on the rocks or on cloud nine. Make sure to keep communicating, find time to have fun together (and apart from that), and practice patience. Don’t rush things, because if you try to put too much pressure on your relationship, it could crash and burn.