Women's Center: Relationships

What Makes a Healthy Relationship:
There are many different components of a healthy relationship. Only you can be the judge of your relationship, although sometimes the people in the relationship lose an objective outlook on something they are so close to. Think about your current or past relationship when considering the following questions.

• Does your relationship involve more than physical aspects?
• Can you say that substance abuse or other addictions play no role in your relationship?
• Does your partner know your joys, expectations, frustrations, dreams, fears and other important feelings?
• Has your partner shown commitment in times of crisis?
• Do you respect each other’s differences?
• Is there mutual respect for each other in all areas?
• Do you both show an equal amount of compromise with each other?
• Is there room for growth in your relationship?
• Do you feel as though your identity has been maintained?
• Have you maintained the friendships that were important to you before this relationship?
• Are your sexual boundaries respected?
• Is there always mutual consent to sexual interaction?
• Are you aware of your partner's sexual history?
• Are you comfortable communicating your sexual likes and dislikes with your partner?
• Are you both willing to take responsibility for your sexual decisions?
• Have you discussed the consequences of sexual activity?
• Do you practice safe sex?
• Has your world expanded since the beginning of this relationship?
• Does your partner compliment you and vice versa?
• Is there an equal amount of trust in the relationship?
• Is there a sense of equality and balance in the relationship?
• Are you able to be yourself around your partner?
• Do you make each other laugh?
• Are you able to talk about issues that are important to you?
• Are you able to resolve arguments rationally?
• At the end of arguments do you ultimately learn something about one another?
• Are you happy with this relationship a majority of the time?
• Do you get along more than not when you spend a long period of time together?
• Can you that there are no signs of possessiveness or consuming jealousy within this relationship?
• Can you say that you never feel like you’re walking on eggshells around your partner?

If you answered YES to a majority of the above questions you are most likely in a healthy relationship. The questions that you answered with NO may be areas of your relationship that need some attention. If a majority of the questions were answered with NO, you should re-evaluate your relationship and the reasons why you are in it. If you are worried that your relationship is unhealthy, do this exercise with a friend you trust. They may provide an objective opinion to further analyze your relationship. Remember, you deserve nothing less than a healthy relationship!

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