13 habits to adopt to become one of those irritatingly happy married couples, no matter how long you’ve been together.
I’m often asked, “What makes a relationship healthy?” And all I can answer is that, the majority of the time, it is not about romantic dinners, hand-made cards and mind-blowing sex (although, look, none of those things hurt!)
When it comes to the long-haul, it’s about doing things for each other ever day that make each other feel valued. And those things need to become habits that in turn become second nature. I took a look back at the things I’ve done (and had done to me) to present you with the 13 habits of healthy couples.
1. You give without the expectation of getting anything in return.
You give out of compassion, empathy, and mutual respect. In an unhealthy relationship, giving is used as a tool to get something in return. Avoid the quid pro quo mentality by giving from a place of presence and abundance, not just so he’ll assemble your shelves from Ikea.
2. You love your partner for who he is, not for his potential.
In a healthy relationship, you love your partner for who he is at that moment. You work to learn more about him, his hopes and his dreams. In an unhealthy relationship, you work to change your partner to be what you want or you love him for the person he could one day become.
3. Your relationship is a safe space.