Characteristics of a Good Relationship (9+ Signs)

We all dream of having the perfect relationship. A companion that would love us unconditionally and accept us for who we are. 

But when do you really know that what you have is real? When do you know you have found ‘the one’?

In this article, we will discuss the characteristics of a good relationship in depth and help you understand why it is healthy to be in such a relationship.

10 Signs that determine that you are in a good relationship

Here is a list of 10 characteristics of a good relationship that you should be looking for:

• Mutual Admiration and Respect
• Safe Space
• Trust
• Open Communication
• Independence
• Loyalty
• Empathy 
• Compromising
• Supportive
• Conflict Resolution

Now, let us explore each one in detail:

Mutual Admiration and Respect

You know you are in a good relationship when you and your partner appreciate and respect each other. When you both value each other’s opinions and respect each other’s boundaries, you have a healthy relationship. 

A relationship is good when both partners support each other’s hopes and dreams. They respect each other and stand up for one another when times are tough. Mutual admiration is also necessary in a good relationship.

Sharing the same intensity of feelings and adoration shows that you have a deep connection and bond. Which is a very good sign.

Safe Space 

If your partner listens to you, empathises with you and makes you feel heard, you feel safe to open up to him/her. When you feel safe and comfortable, both physically and emotionally,  around your partner, then you know that you are in a good relationship.

When you and your partner provide each other with a safe space to express your emotions, you feel more comfortable with them. You are more likely to open up and communicate with each other in a productive way.

In a good, healthy relationship, your partner is always concerned about your well-being more than anyone else’s, including their own. He/she is always working on providing you with security not only emotionally, but also physically, sexually, and financially.

Trust

Trust is the most important foundation of any relationship. Taking time to get to know your partner helps form a strong bond based on trust. People who rush into a relationship, often end up in an unhealthy relationship. 

Gaining each other’s trust takes time and patience. Some people easily trust while others take their own time to trust anyone. People who have been betrayed by a loved one in the past are more likely to take time to trust again. 

Trust, once broken, is extremely difficult to build back. In a good relationship, both partners care about each other and protect one another. 

Open Communication

It is essential to openly communicate with your partner. Gap in communication leads to many misunderstandings and assumptions. If you cannot be comfortable enough to openly communicate with your partner, then you are in an unhealthy relationship.

Good communication is when you can effectively communicate your feelings to your partner without any negativity, blame, or lies. It is very important to be open and honest with your partner to build a good relationship. 

In open communication, you are in a safe space where you and your partner take turns to listen and actually hear what you are trying to say. Both partners need to be empathic towards each other. 

Both verbal and non-verbal communication are important factors of open communication.  

Independence

Having your own individual identities outside of the relationship is a sign of a good relationship. 

There may be times when you feel that you need a “me” day. Your partner should be respectful enough to be okay with you taking some time out for yourself and vice versa. Some time apart is healthy for a good relationship.

When couples give each other the freedom to meet whoever they want, do whatever they want and go wherever they want, they show that they are secure with their relationship. Such couples have a deep and meaningful understanding with each other.

Loyalty

When you and your partner are completely committed to each other, without any doubts, that’s when you are most loyal in the relationship. Loyalty remains when the relationship is strong and healthy. 

Relationships start going bad if either one of the partners starts to doubt the other. Doubts stem from dishonesty and deceit. It can rattle the feeling of loyalty that you feel towards your partner. 

People are more loyal when they are devoted to each other and are happy in the relationship. An open, honest, loyal relationship is always the best choice. 

Empathy

Being empathic with your partner is crucial for a deep and meaningful relationship. Listening and trying to understand your partner’s perspectives helps you to accept whatever may be bothering him/her. 

Your partner would appreciate you for making an effort to put yourself in their shoes. In an empathic relationship, both partners feel comfortable being vulnerable around each other. They provide each other with comfort and emotional support.

Sometimes, your partner may not be seeking advice but just wants you to be there for them and listen with an empathic ear. With time, the bond just grows stronger and closer because you both are understanding towards one another. 

Compromise

Compromising is key for any good relationship. Not everyone can always get their way so finding a middle ground and compromising on certain aspects is a good sign of a healthy relationship.

If you and your partner can’t seem to agree on the same thing, then try to find a solution that would work for both, or one partner may need to compromise this time and the other can compromise the next time a conflict arises. 

Taking turns in compromising is essential for maintaining a good relationship. While compromising, it is very important to listen and understand both perspectives before coming to a final decision.

Supportive

After a long hard day at work, do you ever feel like wanting to talk to or spend time with someone who will just listen to you, without any judgements and probably provide you with some insightful feedback?

Having a partner that provides you with support both physically and emotionally is a good sign of a relationship. In a good relationship, both partners should express love, compassion, empathy, and patience. 

People with a good support system experience less emotional distress and live long, healthy and happier lives. With a supportive partner, it is worth taking a few risks and growing together. 

Conflict Resolution

In a relationship, it is critical to observe how your partner deals with conflicts. You need to observe their patience level, their temper, their thought patterns, their language, and also non-verbal cues. 

Conflict resolution can be very difficult for some couples, especially if they have difficulty opening up to each other. The key to resolving conflicts is to effectively communicate with your partner. 

Breaking down the problem and dealing with it bit by bit can also help in resolving conflicts. Ego plays a huge role in conflict resolution. If your ego comes in the way of you accepting  your mistake and apologizing then it would be very difficult to easily resolve conflicts. 

Both partners need to be able to forgive each for their mistakes but also be humble enough to own up to their faults and apologize for it. 

Why is it important to be in a good relationship?

A good or healthy relationship where you and your partner are supportive of one another and help each other grow both individually and as a couple is very essential for a happy life. 

At the end of the day, we all like to come home to someone who can handle our emotional baggage and provide us with comfort and affection. Humans are social beings and cannot live in isolation. 

We need social interactions on a daily basis, someone to talk to, someone who would listen to us when we need to feel heard. We always try to seek for someone who would love us unconditionally and provide us with support and care. 

Conclusion

In this article, we examined in detail the 10 different characteristics of a good relationship. We also discussed why it is important to be in a healthy relationship. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Characteristics of a Good Relationship

Let us have a look at some of the most common questions asked by people:

What are the 8 characteristics of a healthy relationship?

The following are the most common characteristics of a healthy relationship:

• Trustworthy
• Loyalty
• Honesty
• Unconditional Love
• Supportive
• Understanding
• Safety and Security
• Communication

What are the 5 most important things in a relationship?

Here is a list of 5 most important things in a relationship:

• Establishing and respecting boundaries.
• Being able to communicate freely without judgements.
• Being open and honest to each other.
• Trusting each other and giving each other the benefit of doubt.
• Being loyal and providing a safe space for vulnerability.

What are the qualities of a good relationship?

There are many qualities that build a good relationship. The most important foundation of any relationship is trust. Being able to trust your partner through tough times helps build a stronger bond.

Along with trust, one needs to be honest, loyal, patient and also supportive to maintain a good relationship with their significant other. 

Citations

https://youth.gov/youth-topics/teen-dating-violence/characteristics

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-25433/15-essential-qualities-of-relationships-that-last.html

https://thrive.kaiserpermanente.org/thrive-together/live-well/8-traits-happy-healthy-relationship