Healthy Relationships

In a previous lesson, we discussed the importance of having personal boundaries. Those boundaries show others that we have respect for ourselves and for others. Being respectful of another person is part of having a healthy relationship with them. A healthy relationship is when a connection based on mutual respect, trust, and honesty exists among two people.

Beyond mutual respect, trust, and honesty, characteristics of healthy relationships include the ability to compromise, supporting each person’s individuality, positively communicating with each other, and problem-solving.

There will be times in all of our relationships when issues arise. It’s how those issues are handled that tells us if our relationship is healthy. People who are in healthy relationships will work hard to openly communicate their feelings, control their anger, and do their best to understand how the other person in that relationship feels. They won’t make the other person feel bad by insulting them, or force their opinions on the other person.

Think about the relationships in your life. Are they based on mutual respect, trust, and honesty?