Defining Healthy Relationships

Today, with all of the social media, it seems that our own relationships are out of our hands. That we have to be this picture-perfect image of what a relationship should be. If one was to go on Instagram, or even better, VSCO, and see girls “happy” with their “perfect” boyfriends, one may accept that as to how all relationships are and should be. But what you don’t see are the imperfections of those relationships.

We accept that every relationship on social media is a healthy one. But what exactly is a healthy relationship? A healthy relationship is when two people develop a connection based on: mutual respect, trust, honesty, and support. A healthy relationship goes past what you see on social media and often the couples that you see are not as happy as they seem. Another important part to understanding healthy relationships is to understand unhealthy relationships. Unhealthy relationships can be defined as relationships in which physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence take place. Self-worth is a big part in deciding if you are in an unhealthy relationship.

People that have low self-worth often stay in unhealthy relationships because they believe that they do not deserve better. A strong sense of self-worth leads to equality in a relationship and can shift an unhealthy relationship to a healthy one. If both people in the relationship do not believe that they are both equals, then the relationship will become one-sided. A one-sided relationship can lead to isolation.

Another aspect of a healthy relationship is communication. Communication can avoid isolation and will help both people feel equal to one another.

With social media, it is easy to get a sense of inequality. You see all of these couples that seem so happy and it makes you feel insecure about your own relationships. A healthy relationship is much more that what is on social media, it is built on trust, communication, equality, and self-worth.

– Morgan