Healthy Relationships
Respect
Respect in a relationship means that each person values whom the other is and would never challenge the other person's boundaries. It's about paying attention to your partner, even when your friends are around and valuing the other person's opinion even if it differs from yours.
Trust and Support
You're talking with one of your guy friends in the hall and your boyfriend walks past. Does he lose his cool and get mad? Or smile and say hi because he knows you have other friends besides him? It's OK to get a little jealous sometimes — jealousy is a natural emotion. Trust that your partner likes you and is OK with you having other friends. You want to be supportive, and want the best for your partner. Offer encouragement when necessary.
Honesty and Responsibility
This one goes hand-in-hand with trust because it's tough to trust someone when one of you isn't being honest. Don't make excuses for your partner or for your own actions. Admit you were wrong and don't lie about things. A healthy relationship is a truthful relationship.
Good Communication
Always speak honestly and openly so that the miscommunication is avoided. Never keep a feeling bottled up because you're afraid because it's not what your partner wants to hear or because you're worried about sounding silly. Know that it's OK to disagree, everyone has his or her own feelings and opinions. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Intimacy/Physical Affection
Respect your partner's boundaries. Don't pressure your partner to perform a sexual act that they don't feel comfortable with. Consent matters. Ask before you act.
Fairness and Negotiation/Shared Responsibility
It's important to give and take in a relationship. Accept changes, and be willing to compromise. Agree to disagree sometimes. Things get bad really fast when a relationship turns into a power struggle, with one person fighting to get his or her way all the time. Make decisions together. Remember, you're a team, so do things for each other. Do things together.
Separate Identities
Part of being in a healthy relationship is making compromises. However, don't forget you are an individual too. You shouldn't have to give up your friends or drop out of activities you like to do. Just because you are someone's partner doesn't mean you can't make new friends, join clubs and do things as an individual.
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