Holiday Recipe for Healthy Relationships
The Healthy Relationship
INGREDIENTS
150g consent
150g trust
150g boundaries
750g communication
METHOD
Healthy relationships involve honesty, trust, respect and open communication between all partners and they take effort and compromise from all people involved. All parties have equality and there is not an imbalance of power. In healthy relationships individuals still have the power to have their independence and have the freedom to make their own decisions. If or when a relationship ends, an individual has the freedom to separate from the relationship without the fear of stalking, retribution or retaliation.
Consent is critical for a healthy relationship as it is the agreement between people, given through words or actions, that they are clearly and enthusiastically willing to engage in an activity. In your partnerships, understand that silence or lack of resistance is not consent. If your partner is drunk, sleeping, or unconscious, they cannot give permission. Consent in a partnership involves active communication and knowing that a person always has the right to withdraw their consent. Consent looks like asking for approval before starting an activity or making a decision and asking follow-up questions to check if it is still okay with your partner. Consent is vital to making your partner feel heard, safe, and understood. Consent also shows the respect that each of us gets to make decisions about our bodies.
Trust in a relationship builds over time and can be broken and repaired. We often hear the term "baggage" when considering a person's relationship history and how it can be carried into your current relationships. To maintain and build trust with your partner, focus on being reliable, honest, and respectful. As the relationship grows and gains longevity, your confidence in your partner should as well based on their actions and words.
Knowing and expressing your boundaries is essential to having a healthy relationship. Boundaries are specific to each person and will vary by person. A boundary is identifying what you are comfortable with and what you are not comfortable with. Setting boundaries in relationships protects the partners and the relationship by creating a safe space for love to grow. You are allowed to put your needs before someone else's, especially if their needs make you uncomfortable. Respecting boundaries in relationships shows a person's investment in the partnership's success.
Having open and honest communication with your partner is another crucial component of a healthy relationship. When this is present, it allows partners to assert their needs and wants. Being mindful of miscommunication and misunderstandings will support the communication in your partnership to grow. Using "I" statements can be an excellent method to implement so that the other person doesn't feel the need to get defensive during essential conversations. Giving your partner your full attention is vital to allow them to be understood. Try putting your active listening skills to the test!
Using all the ingredients, collaboratively mix them and you will develop and maintain a healthy and flourishing relationship with yourself and your partner. The bake time on this recipe is continuous as it requires effort and bakes over the relationship's length.