You may be hearing the “red flags” of relationships all the time.
They refer to the hints that indicate a toxic or even abusive relationship at its beginning.
But have you ever asked yourself “Am I in a healthy relationship”?
Everyone has his own definition of a healthy relationship. How will we know whether a relationship is heading in a good direction?
What are the signs of a healthy relationship? In this post, inspired by this Reddit thread, we are going to take a look at the bright side.
Here are 11 signs that the guy you are dating is a keeper. And your relationship is here to last.
Sign #1: You feel empty when he’s not around
One of the signs of a healthy relationship is you being you with your Significant Other.
You are not trying to hide anything. You are not working to impress anyone.
You feel at ease and safe when he’s by your side.
It’s just like staying alone, but only better.
Especially if one of you is more introverted, the time you spend together isn’t at all energy-draining.
That is one major green flag of a relationship.
2. You add value to each other
A healthy relationship should be inspiring.
It encourages you to become a better person. It pushes you to grow and to thrive.
sourceThat means pushing yourself and to making effort for progress.
Or trying to get rid of bad habits voluntarily without being forced to do so.
If you’ve found one that made you feel the same, Congratulations! You are on the right track.
“You make each other better, and it feels good.” – durant92bhd
3. He’s your “sanctuary”
One of the signs that he’s a keeper is that he’s the shelter for you.
He’s the first one that comes to your mind when you are in need.
There will be times when life gets overwhelming.A keeper should be someone that’s trust-worthy, reliable and will never walk away when things get tough.
He should be your go-to for courage, comfort, and the sense of security. His hug will melt away all the pain and struggles.
At the same time, you trust him with your insecurities, vulnerabilities and secrets.
If he’s meeting these standards, you are definitely in a healthy and strong relationship.
“If you do have to deal with people, bring your SO with you and it’s like your own personal buffer zone.” – pictureofpearls
4. He supports your decisions (even when it means he has to compromise)
Life changes can be scary, especially when they are related to money, jobs or the future.
Being in a healthy relationship, you will feel like he’s got your back, especially during tough times.
If he’s a keeper, he will never judge you or doubt you when you need advice. Instead, he’s going to do whatever he can to help you make the right decision.
When you have made up your mind, whether it’s moving to another city or changing your job, he will be your biggest cheerleader.
You being happy is what he wants.
source“There was a point where I hated my job and my boyfriend basically told me to quit and we will figure things out together.” – Annanomyss
5. Fighting fair
Fighting is actually beneficial to a relationship when you do it right.
It means fighting with the purpose of solving problems.
Going personal or calling each other names is not what we are talking about here. It’s not helping anyone and will only make things worse.
It requires great patience and control over anger to fight fair.
If he’s a keeper, he’s not going to just pour his emotions out and say a bunch of mean things that hurt.
A keeper will not play the “blame game” or screaming on top of his lung either.
Instead, he will be opened about the problem(s), suggest solutions and make compromise if needed.
If he’s making an effort or fighting fair, he’s down to work things out for the long term.
“I’ll never call him an asshole, but I’ll tell him if what he did was shitty so I’m addressing the behavior and not him as a person on the whole.” – laurahrahra
6. You trust each other (more than anyone else)
Trust is the foundation of any relationship.
Without a strong base of mutual trust, any intimate relationship will be filled with doubts, jealousy and endless fights.
But trust will only develop and strengthen with challenges and difficulties.
It takes huge amount of time to grow. But it can tumble down in a second.
If he’s keeper, there should be a high level of mutual trust between the two of you.
You will not be worried about him cheating when you are not around.
You believe that he’s going to do the right thing.
You are confident about his loyalty. And he will never keep you guessing.
“I can enjoy a day without SO and he can too without any worry. That’s what trust is.” –a-little-sleepy
7. He spoils you with the little things
Kindness and generosity always come with love.
It doesn’t have to be a pricey gift or huge surprise every time. Sometimes “small things” will tell you if he’s a keeper or not.
Has he ever volunteered to shared the chores?
Or has he grabbed you a cup of coffee on the way home without you asking?
When you are in love with someone, seeing them happy makes you happy as well.
And that’s a big “green flag” in a relationship.
8. You feel comfortable talking about sensitive subjects
Money, sex, extended families…
Each couple has their own “taboo”. The couples that value their relationships will not try to avoid problems.
Instead, they will find ways to talk it through and get each other on the same page.
Being able to talk about the sensitive issues and expressing oneself freely is a major sign of healthy relationship.
9. He prioritizes the time with you
When you have some free time to spend, the first one that pops out in your mind is your SO.
When you are making plans, you put each other on the top of the list.
With that said, being in a mature and codependent relationship doesn’t mean abandoning one’s social circle or job.
It’s about doing the best they can to make arrangements for dates, trips or just casual time together.
10. You love yourself more
When you are in a strong union, you feel loved.
He loves you for who you are, not asking you to change for what he wants.
And the love and affirmations he gives you will inspire to love yourself more.
11. Laughing a lot, like a LOT lot
A healthy relationship is full of joy, fun and laughter.
Happy couple enjoy each other’s company and humor. And you have the inside jokes that only you two will understand.
Out of all the signs of a healthy relationship, being a happier person is the strongest indicator.
Happiness is what that will keep you together for the years to come.
Grab a free copy of our printable date night planner. Plan dates with your spouse that bring you two closer:)
These are the “green flags” of a healthy and mature relationship.
Anyone of these signs resonates with you? Share with us down in the comment!
All 9 signs are present, but he’s just a friend…
@Kate
Do you want it to be that way? Or does he? If it is you, then you have a fantastic friendship. Keep it. If it is him, then you have a fantastic friendship, keep it.
However, if you feel you are in love and haven’t told him? Tell him. Take that leap…something amazing could be waiting for you on the other side. Love is worth the risk.
<3
Really miss him