Relationships are a crucial part of your life, and the strength and depth of your relationships affect your mental health. Strong relationships with friends, family members and romantic partners can help reduce your stress levels, improve your mood and boost your self-esteem.
Certainty, Comfort & Happiness
The presence of another person can make you feel happier and more confident in a variety of ways, from just looking at them to sharing deep conversations. In fact, research has shown that people who have a partner are likely to feel better on a daily basis, with lower stress levels, restful slumber and more robust physical and mental health.
Being in a relationship also means letting go of other expectations and being open to new experiences, which can be a refreshing break from old habits and routines. This can help you and your partner stay connected in a way that makes you both happy, no matter what is going on outside the relationship.
In a healthy relationship, you trust your significant other with all aspects of your life, including personal decisions and interactions with others. This is because you feel secure in knowing they have your best interests at heart and won’t hurt you physically or emotionally. This is important, because it allows you to be a true extension of yourself in the presence of someone who loves you deeply.
This kind of certainty isn’t about stagnation or being bored; it means you have a close connection with the person you love and you can count on them for support and stability in the face of challenges. This is the type of relationship you want for yourself, and it’s the kind that can lead to a lifetime of significant memories and moments.
Communication, Respect & Commitment
A strong relationship involves a lot of communication between the two people involved in it. This includes talking with each other about what makes you happy and what doesn’t, and it can be tough, but it’s vital for a healthy relationship. If you and your partner don’t communicate well, you could end up fighting about small things that don’t really mean much in the long run.
Commitment is another key component of a healthy relationship, and it can be hard to find in some situations. Sometimes people are afraid of commitment because they’ve been hurt in the past, or they need time to establish their feelings in a new relationship. It’s important to encourage open communication and listen closely to your partner’s perspective, says Antin.
If you and your partner aren’t equally committed to your relationship, it can lead to some serious problems down the road. If you’re in a relationship that has been lacking commitment for a while, or if you aren’t sure if your partner is truly committed to the relationship, you may need to talk about it with a professional counselor.
Social exchange theory suggests that people start and continue in relationships that produce positive benefits, but if they find that those benefits are becoming less and less rewarding over time, they will eventually leave. This is because they are trying to get the maximum benefit for the minimum cost – an economic exchange of investment, reward, and costs.