What a successful relationship looks like?

Healthy relationships involve honesty, trust, respect and open communication between partners and they take effort and compromise from both people. There is no imbalance of power. Partners respect each other's independence, can make their own decisions without fear of retribution or retaliation, and share decisions.

ny.gov - What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like? - NY.gov

Why do my partner and I keep arguing?

Couples often get into argument cycles – where they are always arguing about the same thing. These argument cycles are usually caused by negative...

Last updated Oct 15, 2021

Why do men go no contact?

The no-contact rule male psychology forces him to recognize his loneliness. After a breakup, if you stop contacting him, he will feel free and...

Last updated Jul 16, 2020

Promotion

Having boundaries is like drawing a line. One side has the things you are okay with and the other side, those that you are not okay with, don’t feel ready for, or make you uncomfortable. This line looks different for everyone, so it is important for you to know where yours needs to be drawn. Setting boundaries is a way to teach your partner about your needs, and let you know when something doesn’t feel right. You are allowed to put your needs before someone else’s needs, especially if their needs make you uncomfortable.

Step 1: What are your boundaries?

Think about these categories and what they mean in terms of your relationship. Physical: Are you okay with public displays of affection? Does affection make you uncomfortable? Do you hate it or love it when your partner tickles you? Do you need a lot of alone time? Learn more about physical boundaries and abuse. Emotional: Are you able to share what you are feeling right away or do you need some time to think about it? Do you need your partner to be available anytime you have a crisis? When are you ready to say I love you? Learn more about emotional boundaries and abuse. Sexual: Do you need to get to know your partner a while before engaging in any kind of sexual activity, or are you okay getting physical right away? What sexual activity are you okay with? Learn more about sexual boundaries and abuse. Digital: Are you posting your relationship status? Is it okay if your partner uses your phone? Do you want to share passwords? Learn more about digital boundaries and abuse.

Material: Do you like sharing your stuff? Are you okay paying for your partner or vice versa?

Spiritual: Do you like to practice your religion with a partner or alone? Does your partner need to have the same beliefs as you or can they be different as long as yours are respected? Are you waiting until marriage before you have sex?

Step 2: Letting your partner know what your boundaries are.

You don’t have to sit down with your partner with a check list of all of the things that make you uncomfortable, but you do have be open and honest. Some of these things might come up early in the relationship, like if you are a virgin and don’t want to have sex until you’re ready. Some of these things may not come up for a while, like if your partner wants to share passwords after dating for 6 months. When your needs are different than your partner’s, have a conversation; you don’t need to give an explanation. It may be awkward, but having the tough conversations is a part of having a healthy relationship. When your partner listens to you and respects you, it builds trust.

Step 3: Recognizing when the line has been crossed.

How often do exes come back?

You receive a lot of mixed messages when you begin wondering about your chances of getting back with your ex. Depending on your age, the type of...

Last updated Nov 10, 2020

What is silent ghosting?

While regular silent treatment in a relationship may mean suffering the partner's cold, icy silence for a couple of hours to several days or even...

Last updated Nov 26, 2022

Promotion

Sometimes, boundaries get crossed even after you’ve talked with your partner; this is where trusting yourself comes in. You may be sad, anxious or angry or you may not know exactly what you are feeling. Always trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right to you, it probably isn’t.

Step 4: Responding.

If a boundary has been crossed by your partner who didn’t know where your line was drawn, have an honest conversation. It could be something as simple as saying, “Hey, I really don’t like it when you ________. This makes me really uncomfortable. Do you think next time you can ______ instead?” This might take some back and forth before coming to an agreement that meets both of your needs, but your relationship will be stronger because of it. If a boundary has been crossed even though you had already been clear about your boundaries, this might be abuse. Crossing a line might be obvious, like if you say no to having sex, but your partner uses physical force to make you do something you don’t want to do. But it can also be more subtle, like if your partner guilts you into something, begs you until you give in or threatens to break up with you unless you do what they want.

ny.gov - What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like? - NY.gov

When in a relationship do you feel tired?

There may be other things leading to your exhaustion, but if you are feeling especially tired because of your relationship, this probably means...

Last updated Jun 1, 2021

How do you make your love last?

How to Make Love Last Forever Practice forgiveness. Resentment, anger and blame are normal reactions when your loved one does something hurtful....

Last updated Nov 14, 2022

Promotion

How do couples keep the spark alive?

Initiate Intimacy You want to keep the relationship “alive” by making sure your partner feels desired by you. Initiating intimacy reminds your...

Last updated Oct 15, 2018

Promotion

What is 7 years married called?

Year 7 is Copper and a woollen or knitted garment is also appropriate. The name for year 8 is Bronze with gifts including pottery. Year 9 is...

Last updated Nov 21, 2022