Page 60 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2023

HEALTHY LIVING
CHARACTERISTICS OF
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
When you think of healthy relationships, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Images of a happy couple strolling through a park or holding hands walking into the store? You probably idealize a healthy relationship as one without conflict and made of pure bliss, but that’s just not the case.
In research conducted by a leading relationship expert, John Gottman, the magic number for a healthy couple was found
to be 5 to 1. Contrary to our belief this number indicates that
we should have 1 negative interaction to every 5 positive. This means negative interactions should still occur often, just less often than positive ones. In order to keep this number relevant in your relationships today, there are some key characteristics that can help guide things in the right direction.
story by Luke Height
60 | February 2023
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Here are some characteristics that define healthy relationships:
Be Honest. To have a healthy relationship means to tell the truth and be authentic. When you lie to your partner, you are doing a disservice to yourself and them.
Communicate. It’s easy to think that
the people closest to you know what’s going on in your head, but it turns out they don’t. Communication is key to staying on the same page and avoiding unnecessary conflicts.
Choose your battles. You’ve probably heard an old timer say this, but it’s true. Don’t argue over every small thing and take the time to figure out what matters to you before starting a feud.
Respect each other. Mutual respect is
key. No matter what role you play in your relationship, each of you is important. Respect each other’s opinions and what you bring to the table, it will go a long way.
Relationships can be a tricky dance, but they don’t have to be difficult. When you maintain these core characteristics, making it through any time of life will be a whole lot easier.