Keys to a Healthy Relationship... With Anyone
Every relationship is different and every person is different, but there are some common things that should be practiced in any relationship to ensure that it is long-lasting and worthwhile. Whether it’s a best friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, teammate, co-worker, or parent, it is important that the following components are exercised:
Mutual Respect
Respect in a relationship is a very important foundation to set. Mutual respect means that each person values who the other is and understands — and would never challenge — the other person's views unless they were harmful.
Trust
You're talking with a guy from English class and your boyfriend walks by. One scenario is that he completely loses his cool or the other scenario is that he keeps walking because he knows you'd never cheat on him. Jealousy (mistrust) is a natural emotion, but how you react when feeling jealous is what matters because it shows your level of trust and maturity. There's no way you can have a healthy relationship if you don't trust each other.
Honesty
Honesty goes hand-in-hand with trust because it's difficult to trust someone when the person isn't being honest… or even if you aren’t being honest. Have you ever caught your friend in a major lie? He or she told you that she had to work on Friday night, but it turned out she was at the movies with him/her other friends? This sets everything on shaky ground and the next time he/she has to work, you'll have a lot more trouble believing them.
Support
Your friends and family should be supportive in good times and bad times. In a healthy relationship, the person is there with a shoulder to cry on when you find out your parents are getting divorced and they are there to celebrate with you when you get chosen to be on your favorite sports team.
Separate Identity
A common mistake teens make is to try and conform to each other’s way of thinking and doing things. Once again, in a healthy relationship, everyone needs to make compromises, but that doesn't mean you should feel like you're losing out on being who you really are. When you started going out, you both had your own lives (families, friends, interests, hobbies, etc.) and that shouldn't change. You should never pretend to like something you don't, or give up seeing your friends and family, or drop out of activities you enjoy. Leave room available to develop new talents or interests, make new friends, and move forward with all the good things that lie ahead.
Good Communication
So often, teens think its not “cool” to consult with parents and vent to them during family dinner time, but opening up lines of communication with your parents is crucial. On another note, you've probably heard about how different men and women are and how they don't seem to speak the same language. To avoid unhealthy miscommunication, it’s important to ask if you're not sure what he or she means, and speak honestly and openly. Never keep a feeling bottled up because you're afraid it's not what your friend wants to hear or because you worry about sounding silly.
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