Healthy relationships.

A healthy relationship with a partner, healthy communication, conflict resolution, and a healthy relationship with one’s body.

Everyone wants to feel good and comfortable in their relationship. Healthy relationships contribute to increasing a person’s self-esteem. You can build a healthy relationship with each person. Relationships are part of a person’s lifestyle and have an important role and meaning. One of the important steps to having a healthy relationship is clarifying the expectations of both parties and matching them to each other. One of the main principles of a healthy relationship is that the parties are willing to listen to each other and express their concerns. The parties’ communication is based on trust and sincerity in such a relationship.

In a healthy relationship, you learn to respect and trust the important people in your life. Disagreements are inevitable. In such cases, you should be calm: keeping calm makes choosing ways to solve the problem easier. Working through disagreements helps strengthen relationships.

Each person is special: There is no one-size-fits-all way to build a healthy relationship, but there are several features that are important to consider:

To respect the individuality of the other person, accept differences, and allow the other person to be original,
To discuss concerns, have the opportunity to express different opinions, and compromise equally,
To express and listen to each other’s feelings, demands, and wishes, try to trust and be independent,
To overcome conflicts rationally, by mutual agreement, and peacefully.

Responsibility plays a very important role in a relationship. When a person is not responsible for their feelings and needs, the responsibility for their happiness falls on their partner’s shoulders.

We can talk about a healthy relationship when there are:

The personality of each person
Open communication
Confidence
Mutual respect’s opinions, values, and boundaries
Equality in decision-making
A safe environment to discuss issues that arise
An opportunity to share your expectations with your partner
Honesty
Non-violent means of resolving disagreements
Responsibility for one’s self
Acknowledging everyone’s fallibility
Acknowledging and accepting one’s own mistakes
Proportionate assumption of obligations.

Unhealthy relationships can cause feelings of fear, anxiety, irritability, and exhaustion. In unhealthy relationships, there is an unfair distribution of balance. You may find that you are the main contributor to the relationship and pay more attention to the other person than they do to you, or you feel overwhelmed because you have obligations that burden or pressure you.

In a healthy relationship, you feel safe and can trust them with your secrets. You want to spend time with them. A healthy relationship includes trust and respect, which is very important in a family, a friendship, even on a date. If you feel that there is a lack of communication and trust between you, then you are probably in an unhealthy relationship. It is important to discuss such relationships with a professional to understand how to make them healthy and whether it is worth continuing or ending them: it may take some time to make such a decision.

Even healthy relationships may need improvement. It is possible to feel cold towards the partner over time. In such cases, try to find a fun or simple activity that will be enjoyable for both of you. For instance, take a walk in the park and think of all the reasons that bring you together and help you stay in the relationship.

A healthy relationship is based on the following factors:

Mutual respect
Confidence
Honesty
Justice/equality
A separate identity
Active communication.

Building a healthy relationship requires working towards it. This is important in any relationship – work, friendship, family, and love – it takes time and effort.

A healthy relationship allows you to maintain relationships with friends and relatives alongside your love relationships and even encourages and allows other relationships as they develop relationships. It’s important to have independent activities – hobbies, work, etc. – that help keep the relationship interesting and fresh. In a healthy relationship, people should be able to express themselves freely and not fear criticism or its consequences. A sense of comfort, calmness, and safety should promote self-expression and be free of judgment while at the same time implying healthy criticism, discussion of mistakes, and advice for their resolution and correction. In a relationship, you should respect each other’s personal space and privacy, for example, the requirement to be alone, to have a separate diary or telephone code, etc. Disagreements and conflicts are possible in every relationship, but in healthy relationships, conflicts are resolved by discussing them and making joint decisions. This is done in a calm, non-tense atmosphere, requiring certain skills.

How do you build healthy relationships?

First, it takes time to get to know the other person: try to communicate in different situations and environments before the first date, talk, and discuss each other’s interests. One can often talk on the phone or make first meetings in public places and with a few friends. Try to plan interesting, enjoyable, and fun activities. Being honest and accepting other people’s opinions and preferences can help build a healthy relationship, such as discussing which activities or places you find uninteresting or unpleasant. It’s also important to discuss time your restrictions are, like when you have to go home, etc.

How to communicate?

Transparent, honest communication should be the foundation for building healthy relationships.

Healthy communication involves:

Choosing the right time- If something is bothering you and you want to talk about it, choose the right time. It’s a good idea to inform your partner that you have an important conversation and ensure you’re not busy with other important activities. Please don’t start that conversation unless you’re sure it’s a good time.
Talk face to face- Do not transfer the conversation to another person. Always clarify relationships face-to-face.
Do not attack- It is very important to choose the right words; for example, when you say “you have to…” it can sound accusatory. Instead, you can say “we can…”.
Be honest- Agree on being honest with each other. Sometimes, the truth may hurt, but it is the cornerstone of healthy relationships. You have to accept that nobody is perfect, and it is very natural to apologize for any mistakes.
Body language- Make eye contact when you speak. Your partner should always know that you are listening to them and that you care about the issue they are raising while also making sure you are being heard.
Use the 48-hour rule- If your partner has done something that makes you angry, you should tell them about it, but you don’t have to do it right then and there. If 48 hours have passed since the incident and you are still hurt, talk and express your feelings.

How to communicate if you are angry:

Anger is a natural and common emotion in relationships. If you feel anger towards your partner, you should:

Take a break. If you are angry about something, it is very important to stop and think.
To think. When you find yourself in any unpleasant situation, create time to think about the situation and the reasons for its occurrence.
To speak. You must discuss the situation because undiscussed events and unexpressed anger leave their mark on the relationship.
To listen. When you’re done talking about your feelings, give your partner time to express themselves. You both can express your views and feelings in a safe and healthy environment.

Respect

Respect is a very important prerequisite for building healthy relationships. No matter how long you’ve been dating, always remember that each person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. When building a relationship, you should approach the person you have decided to build a relationship with respect. Respect can arise as you get to know the other person during the development of the relationship. Still, from the first day of building the relationship, you must respect the other person’s human nature, independence, ability to make decisions, worldview, and feelings.

How do we build mutual respect in a relationship?

Building respect in a relationship happens gradually. But how do you understand whether to trust this or that person? This is quite a difficult question, particularly at the initial stage of building a relationship. Still, that person’s behavior over time and in different life situations can guide this matter. In a healthy relationship, partners need to trust and be trusted. Respect cannot be built on the will or willingness of one party alone. It requires mutual commitment. When building relationships, it’s important to understand:

Is your partner with you? It is about both physical and spiritual presence. Do you have a supportive relationship? Do they care about your problems?
Is your partner consistent? The most noticeable indicator of respect is when the partner is consistent in their actions.
Does your partner say what they think and do what they say? Do their words and behavior match each other?

If a relationship of trust has failed in the past, how can one trust again?

If you’ve had a negative experience building a trusting relationship, it’s important to remember that this new person is not to blame for the previous negative experience. An important prerequisite for trusting others is that one learns to trust oneself, particularly when one has a negative experience of trusting others. Remember that the person who abused your trust in the past made that choice, and you are not responsible for their actions or decisions.

Delineation of boundaries.

Understanding each other’s desires, goals, fears, and limitations is critical to building a healthy relationship. You should have the right to express your expectations and desires without fear of the other person’s reaction.

Talking about your boundaries with your partner is an important step that will ensure your continued interpersonal safety. When delineating boundaries, it is important to consider the following:

Define clearly what your goals are in building a relationship and tell them to your partner
Each of you should have the right to manage your free time
Don’t rush if you’re not ready yet. In a healthy relationship, both parties know the other person’s expectations and communicate regularly if anything changes.
Don’t take on commitments you’re not ready for. For instance, receiving an expensive gift from a friend does not mean you have to do anything in return.

Online range

It isn’t easy to separate the nature of a relationship when it is in the online range. Before forming an online relationship, it is very important to define online boundaries:

It is acceptable when you are mentioned (tagged)
Is relationship information published?
Is it okay for your friends to become their friends?
Is it okay for you to know each other’s passwords?

When drawing boundaries in the online range, it is very important to consider:

Confidentiality of passwords. Always have online safety, even if you have a trusted relationship.
Existing Risks of Sharing Personal Information Materials. It should be considered that no matter how healthy and reliable your relationship is, you can never be sure how the other person can handle your personal information and secrets. You have to try to be careful and keep certain boundaries. These risks double when it comes to sharing nude photos. Remember that after sending a picture or material, you can delete it within a few minutes or set a timer of seconds before the material or picture disappears.

Coping with conflict in healthy relationships.

The presence of conflicts is a normal phenomenon in relationships. By conflict, we mean verbal disagreement and counterarguments. People express their disagreement, and that is natural. Effective conflict resolution in relationships contributes to healthy relationships. However, if conflict is a frequent occurrence in a relationship, it may indicate something is wrong. From the point of view of overcoming conflicts, it is very important to:

Definition of boundaries. Even in times of conflict, it’s important to maintain a respectful relationship, but it’s also important to establish initial boundaries that allow the other person to understand your expectations.
Find the real reason. Conflicts usually occur when the demands of one of the partners are not met. Learn and develop the ability to speak in yourself, allowing you to reveal the real reason.
Agree, not to agree. If you can’t solve the problem, sometimes it’s more effective to change your attitude towards it. However, if the problem is really important to you and you cannot forget it and come to an agreement, you should reconsider your relationship.
Compromises. Sometimes, compromise is easier said than done, but compromise is the key to successful conflict resolution. It is very important that both parties feel satisfied with the outcome of the situation.

Coping with conflicts in abusive relationships

Although conflict is a natural phenomenon in a relationship, your arguments should not turn into personal attacks or humiliation. Remember that an important indicator of an abusive relationship is when your partner tries to control, humiliate, or manipulate you.

A healthy relationship with one’s own body.

Puberty is a key stage in everyone’s life, especially regarding physical development and appearance changes. Accepting one’s body during puberty can be difficult and raises many emotions and questions.

Puberty usually begins in early adolescence and involves several physical and emotional changes. These changes occur under the influence of hormones. The size of the body changes; by the way, the size of the genitals changes, the body is covered with hair /emphasized in some parts of the body/, the voice becomes harsh, and muscles develop. Puberty can take from two to five years, according to studies.

The process of accepting one’s own body.

Body acceptance is an important aspect of self-determination and healthy living.

For the first time, a child faces difficulties accepting his body during adolescence, when changes to his body begin. Accepting one’s body during puberty can be difficult for many young people, including boys. Research shows that during this period, teenagers may feel dissatisfied with their bodies, comparing them to the ideal standards of beauty and physical appearance often presented in the media. Research shows that levels of body dissatisfaction among teenagers increase during puberty.

Acceptance of one’s own body at this age also has gender characteristics. Men may face unique questions and expectations about masculinity, physical strength, and appearance. These accepted perceptions and expectations exacerbate boys’ dissatisfaction with their bodies, as it is difficult to conform to accepted and popular standards at this age. They are also influenced by the many myths and stereotypes spread in modern society, negatively affecting men’s self-esteem. One of the most common stereotypes is about the size of a man’s penis, which creates a sense of competition and insecurity in men of this age. Many men feel anxious about their penis size and associate it with partner satisfaction. However, studies show that penis size does not directly affect a partner’s sexual satisfaction. Key factors influencing partner satisfaction include communication, emotional connection, skill in sexual techniques, and overall partner compatibility. Therefore, it is important to realize that penis size is not the determining factor in sexual relations. Studies have also shown that the level of sexual satisfaction of men does not depend on the size of the penis, erection, or the duration of the sexual act. Instead, factors such as emotional connection with the partner, level of arousal, and interaction during intercourse have a greater impact on satisfaction.

Body acceptance is a gradual process that can take time and support. Parents, educators, and health professionals can play an important role in creating a supportive environment where adolescents can develop a positive body image and accept themselves for who they are.

Here are some strategies that can help young people accept their bodies during puberty:

Education and awareness. Learn about puberty and the physical changes that occur in your body. You should know that these changes are a normal and inevitable part of development. Education will help alleviate some of the doubts and anxieties about physical changes.
A variety of bodies. Remember that each body is unique and has its own personality. Comparing your body to other people’s bodies will increase your tension because nobody is the same, and there is no best standard. At this age, focusing on one’s strengths, advantages, and qualities is important, not appearance.
Positive attitude. Treat yourself with love and respect. Bring out your positive qualities and accomplishments instead of focusing on your flaws. Positive self-love will help increase your self-esteem and improve your relationship with your body.
A healthy lifestyle: Take care of your body, exercise, and follow your diet. A healthy lifestyle can help you feel more comfortable and satisfied.
Support system. Connecting with friends, family, or other young people also going through puberty is important. Talk about the same feelings, experiences, and worries with peers and adults who understand you and can help you accept your body.
Seek professional help. Suppose you have serious problems with body acceptance. In that case, if you feel unhappy or try to harm your body, it is recommended to seek help from a psychologist or other qualified professional.

Remember that accepting your own body is a process that can take time. You must be patient with yourself and remember that you deserve love and respect regardless of your appearance and physical changes.