An S.O. who lifts you up and reminds you how awesome you are when you really need to hear it
Being in a relationship should feel good, not anxious or stressful! Your significant other is someone you can go to for support and to help you overcome challenges you’re facing. While people in our lives push us to be the best people we can be, a partner in a healthy relationship accepts and loves you for the person you are today.
Having a safe place to vent and share your feelings
Being in a healthy relationship means having really great communication, which encompasses a lot of different things. Communicating can mean negotiating and finding mutually beneficial solutions to arguments, but it can also mean feeling comfortable sharing with your partner. So at the end of a long day, you should count of your partner to be there and listen – and vice versa!
Being with someone who will sweep you off your feet, not step on them
Good partners recognize that they are a part of your life – not your entire life. The person you are with should encourage you and always give you the space you want and need. Even more than that, having a significant other should never mean that you have to give up relationships with your friends or family. Your partner is there to make your life even better, not take people away from it.
Feeling totally cool saying no, and really excited when you want to say yes!
Every relationship has different expectations, but one thing is for certain: you should only be doing things with your partner that you are 100 percent comfortable with and ready for. Intimacy can be a great part of your relationship, and it can help you connect with your partner. Healthy partners communicate often and always check in when they think you might be uncomfortable. People who love you don’t pressure you or shame you for not doing what they want.
Having your friends and family support your relationship as much as you do
If your friends and family tell you that your relationship isn’t healthy, you should probably listen. That means that when the people you love most in your life are as excited about your partner as you are, it is an awesome sign! It’s important not to isolate yourself with your partner and to connect with the many aspects and people in each other’s lives.
When your S.O. knows that binge watching 3 seasons of GOT in a week doesn’t mean you love them less
Sometimes you just need alone time. Whether alone time means tea, chocolate, Netflix, Tumblr, yoga, hiking, or anything you need to recharge, it is totally OK to take care of yourself. People in relationships support each other, and sometimes that support means giving your partner space so they can enjoy their hobbies and passions.
Being with someone who knows your texts are for your eyes only, and is totally cool with it
You should never feel pressured to give your partner your passwords, or access to 1your phone, computer, or anything private. Healthy relationships are built on trust and mutual respect, not suspicion and background checks. You should feel confident that you can hang out with friends, leave your phone unattended, or have someone post on your Facebook wall without getting the third degree!
Your choices – like what you wear and where you go – are yours to make
It’s not cool when someone dictates how you should dress, whether they overtly tell you or use more subtle tactics like shaming or passive aggressively making comments. The same goes for the choices you make in where you go or what you choose to do. This is your life, and a partner who respects you will be happy when you live it on your terms.
For more on healthy relationships, visit www.thatsnotcool.com.