A healthy relationship is built on mutual respect. This is true of all types of relationships; your family, you friends and your co-workers. You can't choose your family or, in most cases your co-workers, so you hopefully learn to get along with them. Your friends you can choose. You can choose to accept their short comings as they choose to accept yours- yes, you have some.
It is most important to share a healthy relationship with your soul mate, life partner or spouse. This is the person you will spend them most time with. Ideally one of you can't be unhappy and the other happy. Alright, we know couples like that but that is not what we are striving for. Many of us know of couples that have participated in some form of domestic abuse; verbal, physiological or even physical. Many of these couples seem to start out well, but somewhere things went wrong.
How can we be sure we would end up "stuck" in a relationship that makes us unhappy or worse in a domestic violent one? L... [more]

The stages of a healthy relationship are similar for many happy couples. Any relationship has its highs and lows. However, in a healthy relationship, every stage brings the partners closer together, making their bond stronger and more satisfying. Stages of a Healthy Relationship: 1. Romance Stage: When you first meet and start dating, you enter a stage of romance. You are constantly thinking about each other, you always want to be together, you try to look your best, and often give and receive presents. This first stage of a healthy relationship is fun and beautiful, but not too serious yet. 2. The Steady Stage: Within a few months, you may enter the steady stage, which can last for years. You know each other's friends and families, you know each other well, and you enjoy spending time together. You also have a very strong commitment (including getting engaged and/or married).





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Steps:

Do not expect anyone to be responsible for your happiness. Ask yourself why you aren't happy. Too often, relationships fail because someone is unhappy and blames the partner. Your life is solely under your control, with your relationship you have to take the good with the bad. You need to give as well as take.
Make and keep clear agreements. Respect the differences between yourself and your partner. Do not expect your partner to agree with you on every issue. Reach a mutual agreement or plan, and then commit to it. If you say you're going to meet your partner for lunch at noon, be on time or call if you absolutely must be late. If you agree to have a monogamous relationship, keep that agreement. Keeping agreements shows respect for yourself and your partner, as well as creating a sense of trust and safety.
Use communication to establish a common ground to understand different points of view and to create a mutual, collaborative agreement or plan. You c... [more]