Top tips for happy relationships
If and when you find you are attracted to someone, there are some qualities that are worth looking out for and developing in a relationship.
Every relationship is different, but there are things which are common to the best ones which you might like to think about. Not only do these pointers give you things to think about yourself, they're also good conversation starters if there's something about your relationship that doesn't feel quite right.
Respect
Value who the other person is and understand the other person's boundaries.
Trust
You have to trust each other to have a happy relationship. Otherwise, you can end up worrying about what they're doing, or feeling unhappy or insecure.
Honesty
It’s tough to trust someone when one of you isn't being honest. Telling the truth is sometimes hard, but it’s almost always worth it.
Support
Some people are great when things are going right but don’t want to be there when your whole world is falling apart. You need a healthy balance.
Separate identities
In a healthy relationship, everyone needs to make compromises. It’s good to have the freedom to keep and develop talents or interests of your own and have time for friends and family.
Fairness/equality
You need to have give-and-take in your relationship, too. Things can go wrong really fast when a relationship turns into a power struggle, with one person fighting to get his or her way all the time.
Good communication
Speak honestly and openly so that you avoid misunderstandings. Never keep a feeling bottled up because you're afraid it's not what your partner wants to hear or because you worry about not sounding cool.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that being with someone should be a positive experience. You should be having fun and feeling good about yourself. It won't be perfect romance every day – all relationships go through ups and downs. But if you’re consistently having a bad time or feeling low, it could be time to move on.
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