A relationship is a connection between two or more people that can be emotional, physical or financial. Relationships require mutual support, regular communication and compromise. People in healthy relationships are respectful towards each other and put their partners’ needs above their own. They have a clear understanding of their roles and expectations.
Humans are social beings and place a great emphasis on relationships. It is important for us to have close relationships with our friends, family and romantic partner. People who have healthy relationships with their friends and family are more likely to live a longer, happier and more fulfilling life.
The relationship can be casual and informal such as dating or hooking up, or it can be more serious and committed like a marriage or civil partnership. It is often difficult to determine whether a relationship is healthy and requires honest, open discussion between the parties. If you have a hard time defining what a relationship means to you, it may be beneficial to seek guidance from others who have a good understanding of what a healthy relationship looks like.
When a person is in love, they often feel that they would do anything for their partner. This is known as a selfless act of pure kindness and compassion. People who are in unhealthy relationships may stay in them for selfish reasons such as fear of being alone or because they have a habit of using their partners for their own personal gain. Alternatively, they may have difficulty communicating effectively and are not on the same page with their partner about their feelings.