Healthy Relationships - What is a Healthy Relationship & Success Factors

Healthy Relationships are essentially strong bonds that occur naturally between two or more people. The bonds result from interaction, association, and connection between the parties. There are different kinds of relationships.

This is one of the many subjects on relationships that shall be discussed in this article. Other aspects including the course of a healthy relationship, what it means to be in a healthy relationship, and tips on building lasting healthy relations.

Furthermore, this post will be looking at answering some of the most pertinent questions of how you know that you are in a relationship. Where does the attraction come from? Is it true that those in a relationship have to contribute half by each?

The article shall apply the psychological approach to relationships using psycho-social data studied from different media with different angles and parameters. So, how does it feel to be in a relationship? Learn more in the next section.

1. How it feels & how to be in a healthy relationship

Loving someone and being loved back is a unique feeling that every human being carries around. Relations are, therefore, a necessity and not a luxury. Once in a while, you will get yourself caring about someone for no reason.

It should not be confused with a relationship. Given the definition supplied above, a relationship must exist between two or more people. Therefore, it negates the idea that you can have a secret relationship with someone without the person’s knowledge.

Human beings are high animals with the highest intelligence level, having undergone extensive evolution up to such moments that they are too complex than any other living organism. By holding this view, it becomes clear that humans will expect things from their partners.

However, there would be a difference in the requirements due to different kinds of relations between people. Below are points on people’s expectations and feelings while in a healthy relationship.

(A) You should give time.

Research has shown that males like being connected to. For example, they will like you to watch a game with them or play games together. On the other hand, females want to be understood.

They would want you to walk with them, listen, and support them through a crisis or anything. In both cases, time is required, and each party will clamor for it.

(B) You need patience.

People are not the same. Some will take long before they can tune towards your needs. Therefore, as you expect to be understood, it takes a while before such bonds form.

Patience can be a killing necessity in a relationship, but it exists; you have to live with it.

(C) You have to share.

Every party in some relationships, like romantic relations, expect constant honesty and openness with each other.

Such cues are recipes for making stable, relative, and reliable correlations. In fact, one feels complete and isolated at the same time (two of you on some island).

(D) Accord support to your partners.

One thing that remains constant in or out of a relationship is humanity. There are times when people are low, depending on the series of events in their lives.

Therefore, there is a general expectation that your partner will rely on you for as long as you are in some kind of relations. For instance, if your partner doesn’t make it to the finals of a beauty pageant, you will be expected to remain supportive.

This is how you show that you care. Besides, you have to be one another’s strength when things are not going as planned. Hence, you are expected to inspire, motivate, cheer, and strengthen each other.

(E) Be yourself around them.

Many people have problems being who they really are. A good relationship is built on the grounds of honesty and trust. If you feign your personality, you are bound to reveal it someday, whether in bits or as a full-scale revelation.

These instances stretch your relationship and hence resulting in breakups and unhappiness. Being in a relationship helps the parties celebrate that mutual difference between them, further enhancing the bond between them. The highlight of such relationships is trust, belief, and love.

(F) Loving one another.

Love is just a feeling that is given a meaning by two or more people who have one thing in common. Love is one of the strongest bonds between people. At the same time, it is one of the most delicate ones.

Loving each other means accepting other people’s flaws, praising the right attributes, and inspiring a change in one accord. Therefore, the moment you stop handling love as a mere feeling and start seeing it, it helps boost and strengthens the bond between you.

(G) Being human.

Being human is making mistakes; it is allowing yourselves to miss each other and being visionary. You don’t stop your life and pick another just because you have enrolled in a relationship.

Relationships have been there since time immemorial, but countries have been built, faiths renewed, slavery abolished, diseases cured, and animals on the verge of extinction protected.

Therefore, you don’t have an excuse for giving up on yourself and dreams of making mistakes and learning from them over the fear of losing your partner. In other words, as much as you are in a relationship, you shouldn’t lose yourself; there’s still life out there that requires you in your individual self.

2. Types of relationships

What kinds of relationships do you know, can you qualify for work-related interactions between an employee and the boss as a relationship? Have you ever considered the possibility of calling the relation you have with your neighbor as a relationship?

Well, after looking at what relationships are all about and what your partner expects from you, it is healthy the topic on the kinds of relationships gets tackled at this stage.

Many people take relationships as those feelings between two people that somehow and somewhat lead to marriages, and they continue on that trajectory until “life has done them part.”

However, they fail to notice the existence of bromance as a relationship or your friend from college. Find out below the four major types of relationships.

(A) Family relationships

Family is the people that you are related to by kinship. Therefore, a family can be your brother, sister, parent, child, spouse, grandparents, etc. The net on the family can spread wide.

Did you know that in African heritage, a family can be a whole village? Well, this is how wide a family can be. All these people are held together by one sacred relationship.

At times families can be a little messy with some members not seeing eye-to-eye with one another. Moreover, some even plot against each other. These are challenges people go through, and in the end, there is still a family that will come together during a crisis and be there when you need them.

To a young child, the first relationship they form is that of a family. They grow into young individuals who form alliances in school and the neighborhood as they add onto that first sacred, both they formed with the parents.

In a family, every member has a role to play, depending on their position. These roles are either societal beliefs or arrangements made in the home. Usually, parents are meant to offer guidance.

Traditionally, the roles of parents in a family were further divided so that fathers are the natural providers while the mothers played nurturing of the children. However, many such beliefs still fly around nowadays; not so many people care to refer to them for clarity in a family crisis.

All parents have assumed equal roles. Whether this is bad or good, it is a question you will need to answer yourself (you are also entitled to an opinion, right?).
Furthermore, the role of parents was extended to disciplinarians for their children. They still are, maybe with different methods. You can choose a friend, but you cannot choose your family.

Those are the reasons why, however, heated an argument is, all the misunderstandings never saw to last. The disagreements are cleared, and people continue with their lives. Families give people identities. Having someone, you can relate to serves to explain a lot about one’s character and way of thinking.

Psychosocial theories on human development suggest that a person is a product of character and the environment. Therefore, a family provides the background when trying to explain some of the revelations in your body. For instance, spiritual families will likely have more than a third of their members believing in a supernatural being.

Also, one can explain the origin of baldness or the occurrence of some types of cancers and diseases if they stem from the family members.
Families also help to build a base for the formation and maintenance of future relationships.

Most of the people who are unable to maintain relationships, such as friendships and romantic bonds, have had a poor family structure. The little things that parents do to their children have a way or re-appearing in the child’s adult life.

Whether positive or negative, they will surely have a lasting bearing on the personality and the person’s ability to relate normally with other people.

Families do show affection to others by hugging, patting on the back, tousling the hair, kissing on the cheek or forehead, carrying or holding each other, and playing with one another.

Therefore, it is safe to conclude that the success of different forms of relationships depends on how concrete the family relationship was. It is the foundation that forms the fundamental basing of any relationship.

(B) Friends

A friend is a broad term. Friendship can occur in a romantic relationship, families, etc. therefore, in literal terms, a friend is that person you are not related to. Still, you choose to be close and interact with. Friendship in itself can be divergent.

The specificity of your relations depends on how strong the bond between you two is. For example, there are people you can confide in about plans, secrets, problems, etc.
By extension, friends are people that you treat with respect, trust, and care about.

A good friendship should be based on honesty, loyalty, and support. Unlike other relationships, a bond only exists if both parties see each other as friends. It is normal for friendships to be different in terms of the degree. One may feel more comfortable for some people than others.

Nevertheless, those who have been close for some time call each other best friends. You will find some people with a few friends while others with more than three friends. No law governs the number of friends you should have.

Friendship is as delicate as any other relationship. While appropriate was to greet maybe shake, hug, or a kiss on the cheek, inappropriate was include and not limited to, having a romantic contact. It can get hard to go back after that.

(C) Acquaintances

These are people you can meet and have relations for a short time. Just like friends, acquaintances can exist without blood relations. Examples of acquaintances are neighbors, workmates, schoolmates, etc.

Indeed, acquaintances might lead to friendships. In fact, before people are friends, they are first acquaintances. Note that the level of contact in such cases is minimal.

(D) Romantic relationships

Romantic relationships are often strong emotions in which the parties involved feel strongly attracted to one another. These relations may lead to families or friendships afterward. People call this relationship as love.

Romantic relations can exist between two people or the same or different sexes. It involves physical and emotional contact. People in a romantic relationship often see each other. Being apart from each other for extended periods may lead to escalated levels of discomfort in some people. It is argued that it is best to keep close contact to keep the flame burning.

The alternative to spending time together is communication (lots of it). Human beings have an innate urge to control. Basically, people cannot share freely without some form of compromise. That is why; people who are close together would never want to share their partners.

Therefore, this relationship is often exclusive. However, this can be stretched so far, for there are types of romantic relationships that people exercise nowadays that weren’t there before.

(i) Monogamous relationships

here, a person has only one sexual partner at a time. This is one of the initial types of relations one learns. Children get to learn this from a family set up, and they grow up knowing that is how things are supposed to be.

However, they tend to learn more as they become exposed to the setup of the society. For instance, it would be difficult to explain to a child that one person can have more than one sexual partner or have a sexual partner of similar sexual orientation.

(ii) Polygamous relationships

Most sexual relations often get dragged into a polygamous kind of a relationship. You should, however, note that this is a ground for separation and divorce. Whenever a monogamous relationship starts falling apart, one will naturally look for an alternative somewhere.

This is the genetic makeup of human beings for the need for love and attention that kicks in. Nevertheless, polygamous partners usually have that one person they consider as their primary spouse.

Honesty and effective communication can help to maintain a polygamous relationship.

(iii) Open relationships

An open relationship allows partners to have sexual relations with other people while reserving their emotional intimacy. Some couples may find it challenging to engage in this kind of ties.

The restraint level may be a little blurry in this case since you are allowed to have as many sexual partners as you want but only one romantic partner. You can say that both polygamous and monogamous relationships finally found a bargain in open relations.

(iv) Casual sex relationships

As the name sounds, the relationship is based entirely on sex. Therefore, the partners can engage in an excuse sex – monogamous relation without emotional attachment.

Alternatively, they can have many sexual partners as long as it is okay for the other party. The bottom line is that they have regular sex with each other without an emotional connection.

(v) Friends with benefits

This is a platonic arrangement between friends who agree to act on their sexual attraction toward each other mutually. This relationship can be said to be a particular kind of relationship, only that it involves friends. The relationship ends when both or one of the parties is starting to see someone else.

(vi) Asexual relationships

Under this arrangement, people who don’t feel any sexual attraction towards each other decide to date out of behaving normally like the rest of other people. Usually, it becomes difficult to find those parties that are matching.

In cases where the partners are matched as asexual and sexual, there is a likelihood one will have to compromise for another. The alternative is engaging in pseudosexual behavior such as cuddling.

(vii) Long-distance relationships

Here, the relationship is alive, but the two parties are separated by distance. In such instances, some couples decide to open their relationships. You should, however, note that such kinds of relationships are temporary. Long-distance relationships can be brought about by work-related issues or the desire to stay apart.

Practical Advice for healthy romantic relationships

Given the above discussion on the types of romantic relations, you can conclude that being in one doesn’t mean that you are actually in love. The key requirement here is the sexual attraction which everyone bears – or most of the people do.

Most romantic relationships are bred on honesty, respect, trust, support, and acceptance. Some go the extra mile to parent children together – in marriage or as co-parents (co-parents; this should be another type of relationship). People in romantic relations show their care and love by kissing their partners, cuddling, caressing, sexual intercourse, etc.

Among the types of relationships discussed, romantic relations are more delicate and explosive. Arguments and disagreements are expected, and one can work on them through effective communication, compromise, and acceptance. If this doesn’t work, you are advised to see a counselor.

Two partners should be able to solve their internal wrangles without inviting a third party. Looking for therapy may be useful but for saving an individual and not a relationship.

Relationships, especially romantic ones, should be solved by the parties involved. While you are at liberty to share with your friends what is going on, they cannot work things out for you.

If it becomes apparent that the relationship cannot be salvaged, it is advisable to end it so both the parties can find their ground independent of each other. Such instances open your eyes to compatibility.

Always look for a compatible partner. If you cannot stay for the rest of your lives together, at least it’ll take time together; “until death does you part.”

3. Tips for building a healthy relationship

Relationships are unique from one person to another. Part of what makes them unique is the reasons you came together. As your reasons are unique, so as your goals and ultimately your relationships.

However, relationships are made common by the primal reasons such as the need for communication and the common desires between partners. The tips that shall be highlighted in this section will help you enhance your relationship.

It is what is going to differentiate falling in love and staying in it. With a healthy relationship, you are all happy and have a common goal. Challenges do come, but you are always on top of the situation.

You should be in a commanding position to tackle some problems that couples often encounter in relationships. One error that many people are doing is solving their problems and immediately switching to default.

Such that their focus and attention return to children, careers, interests, hobbies, and friends. After looking and finding a solution, you should try to work a different tact this time. You can enhance your vacations so that you have them regularly. Arrange for dates, movies, etc.

(A) Learn to compromise

Do not expect to have your way all the time. Relationships build on this illusion are bound to fail. Encourage reasonable exchange between you and your spouse when in a disagreement.

You need to discover what is essential to your partner. It is challenging to build an atmosphere of building goodwill and compromise. This should, however, be double traffic.

Don’t make your argument to be superior to the other party’s. It spells badly is you approach an argument or a conversation with an attitude that shows you are above the other party. That conversation may never end well.

Therefore, whenever you have a conflict, ensure that you are fighting fair. Try to be as neutral as possible. Acts that sound otherwise may lead to the other party exposing deep-lying resentment or add more to what is there. Take a break whenever tempers grow to unprecedented levels and know when to let go.

(B) Communication

Communication occurs in different forms. This includes verbal and nonverbal cues. It is a dangerous affair trying to let your partner guess what you want. Mostly, after you have been together for a while, people expect that you can read their intentions.

Your partner is not a mind reader. It is healthier if you expressed your feelings directly to leave no room for confusion or error.
Most of the people’s communications occur through nonverbal cues. This includes tonal variations, posture, eye contact, gestures, etc.

If you took a keen interest in what your partner says using body language, you might be able to respond more appropriately.
A lot of emphasis in a relationship has been placed on talking and sharing information openly.

It is, however, of great importance if you listened to your partner expressing their grievances. This way, your partner would feel more loved and cared for.

(C) Spend time together

As earlier noted, falling in love is not difficult; staying in it is. People often forget what attracted them together. Usually, relationships are not built on one thing alone. Pros must outweigh the cons for the balance to topple on the other side.

Some of the things that make people fall for each other is the promise of always being there when needed. Family comes in, and obligations multiply.

Before you know it, you are communicating via telephone, quick cards, emails, and texts. This challenge affects almost everyone, and balancing the two things becomes difficult. That is why you are advised to commit to doing some things like spending time together.

It is worth every penny to put away those electronic devices and just to be together.
Spending time calls for finding activities that you can do together. It could be watching movies, playing games, going for a walk, etc.

Alternatively, you can sign up for a new hobby together. Try expressing interest in something new that you love to do. Whatever your career is, and how demanding your schedule looks, try to find time for your partner.

(D) Prepare for disappointments

It is never always merry in a relationship. Times come when you get tempted to run away because things are not going as you planned them. It is normal to struggle. But what is not normal is expecting too much from your partner. They say that if you expect less, you are less disappointed.

Some extraneous circumstances creep in like loss of a job; some people cannot relate to this. Therefore, they pick problems with financial difficulties staring in the distance. The panic and imaginations of the worst happening can temp a partner to become hostile to another.

Therefore, however much you may feel frustrated, never take it out on your partner. Working as a team is the safest and surest way of walking out of the4 situation unharmed.

Always be open-minded and accept change whenever it is necessary. As time goes by, so do things around you. Flexibility in all aspects of life is crucial in navigating some situations in life. For instance, if you needed therapy, don’t hesitate to go for some by feigning strength.

(E) Be intimate

Research shows that a majority or relationships get broken due to the unfaithfulness of another party. The underlying circumstances that lead to such unfortunate data are the lack of intimacy in a relationship.

Also, you may like to touch kiss and hold in public, and some overtures may scare your partner away. You should know what buttons to press and at what time. For a healthy relationship, intimacy is essential. However, it is only useful if well-tuned.

With busy schedules of work, house chores, children, etc. it may pose a challenge getting time to keep the flame going. Nonetheless, as you spend time together, look for a few minutes to renew your attraction.

4. The bottom line for Healthy Relationships

Extensive research has been conducted on this subject related to the psychological perspective on relationships and how they come to being. There are several types of relations formed between two or more people. A more primal relationship being a family.

Families create a basis for other relationships to flourish. With a tattered family structure, a lot of effort is required to correct the damage caused by the offspring who will be looking to form relationships in the future.

It is quite clear that relationships do not just originate from attractions. Commitment, care, love, and support are some of the expected elements in people forming relationships.

This article formed its basis of argument on romantic relationships. Here, you are advised to maintain regular communication with your spouse. Also, with the health of the relationship being at stake, you might want to cede some ground for your partner.

Compromising and treating your spouse with respect goes a long way to save you from painful breakups.

Additionally, you can seek professional help if things with your relationship aren’t doing so well. Otherwise, you can always talk things out with your partner.

5. Rescuing a Failed Relationship

If your existing dating relationship is failing (or has already failed), don’t fret! Put in the effort and do sweet and practical things to reconcile with your partner.

Also, consider taking up the “His Secret Obsession” program for comprehensive insights on how to get your ex back. However, remember to move on if you’ve tried and cannot salvage the situation.

(Last Updated: 6 June 2020)

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