Here are the eight signs that you’re in a solid and satisfying relationship:
1) You love and appreciate each other: Love is, of course, the essential ingredient in any happy, romantic relationship so its no shocker that it nabbed the number one slot. But its occasionally forgotten sidekick appreciation is one of the key factors that keep love alive. The small acts of kindness, the thank youre making is an extra cup of coffee for your partner these little things go a really long way.
2) You openly share your thoughts and feelings: In a healthy relationship, you can open up and share how you feel without your partner mocking you, rolling his eyes at you or ignoring you. Its really important to be able to articulate if something is bothering you whether its about your own personal stuff or if your partner is doing something thats upsetting you. Having open communication and constructive criticism is an opportunity for you both to take a look at yourselves and grow and change.
3) You make decisions together and share the burden of responsibilities: From paying the bills to taking out the trash to picking up holiday cards, healthy couples tackle their daily to-do list as a team to keep their relationship and household humming along. That doesnt necessarily mean you have to divvy up chores even-steven, but rather its important to chat about expectations and decide together who should do what to eliminate frustration (You didn’t take out the trash!).
4) You strive to resolve conflict constructively: Rather than going for low blows or having an explosive fight, stable partnerships are able to navigate those tricky relationship time bombs, such as where to spend the holidays, with respect and a focus on finding solutions youre both satisfied with.
5) Your goals and values are in sync: Whether its the fact that you and your partner both want two kids, or youre on the same page with religion, having shared values and goals helps keep a couple connected and heading the same direction.
6) You make spending quality time together a priority: Bonded couples are happy with the amount of time they spend together and find activities they can enjoy together. When couples come to me because infidelity is involved and their connection fell apart, it can be because theyve stopped spending time together and having fun together. So do activities go to the gym together, ride bikes, spend time with friends, travel and have new experiences. Its bonding.
7) You’re satisfied with your social life as a couple: Whether you’re both the life of the party, total homebodies, or one of each, happy couples are cool with what each partner brings to the table socially, rather than trying to change the other person into someone theyre not.
8) You feel a sense of freedom: Stable couples express their opinions freely and don’t feel suffocated or held back by the relationship in any way. The relationship shouldn’t feel like a burden, like its sucking life out of you, but rather that its breathing life into you.
