Top 10: Signs Of A Healthy Relationship

Understanding what constitutes healthy relationships can help you make changes that lead to new heights of intimacy, happiness and fulfillment. No relationship is perfect, but here are 10 standard elements that should exist in all healthy relationships.


1. There is mutual respect between partners
A true sign of a good relationship is mutual respect between partners. It means that you respect each others’ individuality and make the most of your differences.


2. You trust each other
Each partner has faith in the other to be emotionally available when needed and you feel a genuine sense of safety and security in the relationship.


3. You appreciate each other
Both of you feel appreciated in the relationship and neither you or your partner feel unappreciated or taken for granted. You praise each other, offer compliments and use creative ways to show you care.


4. You can be honest with each other
In a healthy relationship, both partners display honesty and integrity from the start and maintain it throughout the course of the relationship. This means being honest in everything, and not telling those little white lies that can lead on to bigger, and more defining lies.


5. You support each other
In a healthy relationship, each person is interested in what the other is doing and there is a balance between giving and taking. Both partners are available for each other in a time of need.


6. You can spend quality time apart
In a healthy relationship, you shouldn't feel suffocated or controlled by your partner. Healthy individuals have their own friends, family members, interests and opinions outside the relationship. This also means letting her have a girls' night or her letting you hang out with your friends.


7. You have a good sex life
You're both okay with how often you have sex, how you have sex, where you have sex...and there's mutual participation. Sex is not withheld as a punishment and both partners feel safe enough to express their sexual desires without worrying that their partner will force them to do things they're uncomfortable with.


8. You manage conflict well
Contrary to what some may think, a healthy relationship doesn't mean you're happy 100 percent of the time. In a healthy relationship, you should be able to resolve your differences without blaming or belittling the other person. Instead of just avoiding arguments, healthy couples know how to handle them when they inevitably do come up.


9. There is good communication
If you are in a healthy balanced relationship, you should be able to listen to your partner and be able to support them without letting your own feelings get in the way. Both partners share details of their daily lives to strengthen their emotional bond and spend time together and learn about each other’s thoughts and ideas.


10. You truly feel happy
In a good relationship, both the partners are happy to be with each other and enjoy the relationship. You laugh with your partner and have fun together. You don’t feel like you are pretending, or that you should be someone other than who you are.

Interested on the other side of the coin? Check out our article on The Top 10 Unhealthy Relationship Signs.

Top 10: Ways To Keep Your Girlfriend Happy

When it comes to relationships, most guys work too hard at trying to keep themselves happy rather than their girlfriends. There are certain elements of dating that guys should never overlook. Being a good boyfriend is a lot of work, but what it all boils down to is appreciating your woman and making her feel good about herself. With that, here are 10 steps to keeping the lady in your life happy:


1. Listen to her
Most men don't realize that a woman's idea of communication means actually listening to what she has to say and understanding her as well as relating to her problems without judging her or providing unwanted advice. Listen and understand your girlfriend's deep inward emotion and spirit.


2. Always make her feel beautiful
Don't just tell her you think she's beautiful, or she'll stop believing you. You need to continually show her that you think she is beautiful with your actions. Buy her sexy clothes, take her dancing and ignore everybody else, woo her with sweet gestures and brag about her to others. Do whatever you can do show her that she's the most gorgeous creature you've ever laid eyes on.


3. Know how to please her in bed
A good boyfriend must satisfy his woman's every romantic need not by making love just for the sake of it, but by being passionate about it. Show your partner the emotional intimacy she craves. Communicate with her on every level and anticipate her desires and needs.


4. Make her feel important
You have to understand that she's an equal part of the relationship, so appreciate her company and remember what is important to her. Look her in the eye and tell her what she means to you. Point out all the ways she is different from your past girlfriends and let her know there can be no substitute for her.


5. Challenge her to be better
You can naturally gain a special place in your woman's life by helping her find what she wants in life and make her understand and believe how important her happiness is to you. Help change the way she sees the world and help her stand out and live a happier life. The fact that you care that much about her well-being will make her want to keep you around longer.


6. Pay attention to details
Did she suddenly change her hair color, shed a few pounds, or buy a new outfit? These are all things you need to take note of; most women instinctively flock to attentive guys with keen eyes.


7. Be spontaneous
Once things become predictable in a relationship, things become boring--and once things become boring, the relationship is essentially over. Mix things up a little and surprise her with flowers or hidden love notes, whisk her away to an unplanned romantic weekend and call her for no other reason than to simply say "I love you."


8. Make her laugh
Not only will showing off your great sense of humor get a girl to laugh--it's bound to ensure that both of you enjoy your time spent together. A sense of humor usually tops a woman's attraction wish list and is one of the best ways to turn her on.


9. Don't take her for granted
Women want a man to be someone that makes them feel happy, secure and loved and don't want to deal with insensitive remarks, little hurts and frustration in a relationship. Let her know that you do appreciate her doing things for you.


10. Be chivalrous
Show respect for your girlfriend by being a gentleman. Even if you have been together for a while and chivalry has fallen by the wayside, revive it by opening doors for her, pulling out her chair at the restaurant, helping her with heavy bags, etc...

Interested in the other side of the coin? Check out our article on the 5 Traits of a Great Girlfriend.