If reading our favorite Romances or binge-watching romantic comedies on Netflix has taught us anything, it's that relationships are hard work. 

And yet we often jump right in, not knowing how to foster a healthy relationship with another person. 

Whether you are dating, engaged, married, or just looking, relationships take a lot of time and effort.

What does a healthy relationship look like?

A healthy relationship will often feel like you are two parts of one team. Therefore, when an issue arises, you can openly communicate with each other without retaliation from your partner. 

Every healthy relationship will have the following:

• Trust – This is arguably the most important aspect of a healthy relationship. You need trust in each other to build a strong foundation for your relationship. Without faith, being emotionally vulnerable with each other can leave you open to being hurt. 
• Communication – You need to communicate openly and honestly with each other. No one is a mind reader. There needs to be open communication where you feel safe to be vulnerable with your partner. 
• Respect – Attraction and overall interest are important, but they mean nothing if there is no mutual respect. Respect creates a stronger bond between two people because they know that deep down, the other person has their back and understands them. You can't have a healthy relationship when you are belittling your partner or invalidating them. 

Advice on Healthy Relationships

Advice #1: You are not responsible for your partners' happiness and vice versa. If your partner seems to look to you to act a certain way or do things to make them happy, that is a red flag. We are in charge of our own happiness, and it is our own responsibility to accept how we feel and behave. It's ok to do acts of kindness that we know will bring a smile to our partners' face but in no terms should anyone change who they are or what they are doing to please someone else. 

Advice #2: Figure out your love language and communicate it to your partner. Your love language is the way you experience love. For instance, someone might feel loved when their partner does something for them without being told or touching them lovingly outside of sexual pleasure. Dr. Gary Chapman, the author of The 5 Love languages, explains the 5 most common ways we express love and receive it: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch.

Advice #3: Be Flexible. Relationships take comprise. You both can't get your way 100% of the time. So there needs to be a degree of flexibility between you. Sit down and discuss what matters most to each other and what can be prioritized. If one partner is always compromising, the relationship will become stressed, and cracks will start to form, creating a toxic environment over time. 

Best Places to Get Expert Relationship Advice

VerywellMind released a list of the best places to get expert relationship advice online in 2022. 

• For Individuals with Relationship Issues, check out BetterHelp.
• For Married Couples, check out ReGain.
• For LGBTQIA+ Couples, check out Gay Therapy Center.
• For Sex Therapy, check out Talkspace.

If you haven't met the right one yet, don't worry. Click here for tips on how to manifest your soulmate. 

Every romantic relationship has its ups and downs. They all require commitment and a willingness to adapt and evolve with your partner. 

Even if you've had a string of unsuccessful relationships or have previously struggled to rekindle the flames of romance in your current relationship, there are ways to stay connected, find contentment, and enjoy long-term happiness. Remember, we all have the right to have healthy relationships in our life. 

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Resources:

• Experts Reveal Their 12 Essential Relationship Advice Tips - Relish (hellorelish.com)
• Relationship Advice: The Basics, Problems, Tips & More (marriage.com)
• The Best Relationship Advice for You and Your Partner (theknot.com)
• 19 Golden Pieces of Relationship Advice From the Experts - Lifehack

External Hyperlinks:

• https://www.verywellmind.com/the-best-places-to-get-relationship-advice-4705417
• https://www.betterhelp.com/
• https://www.regain.us/
• https://www.thegaytherapycenter.com/
• https://www.talkspace.com/

Internal Hyperlinks:

• https://bedgeek.com/blogs/news/netflix-and-chill-mastering-the-chill
• https://bedgeek.com/blogs/news/7-ways-to-manifest-your-soulmate
• https://bedgeek.com/