The Cornerstones of a Healthy Relationship
Not only do your heart, soul, dreams, and wishes enter your relationships, but so do your worst fears and any leftover emotional baggage you might be carrying. Emotional baggage can cause relationships to become toxic or, at the very least, incompatible. Unhealthy relationships cause stress that manifests in physical discomfort, illnesses, and, when living with herpes, more frequent and severe outbreaks.
Relationships are like plants, which need good soil, water, sunshine, and a little fertilizer (healthy cornerstones) to help them grow. Here, you'll discover what a healthy relationship entails, relationship red flags, the true meaning of narcissism, and steps to take in leaving an abusive relationship.
The Cornerstones of a Healthy Relationship
- Unconditional love
- Understanding & Intimacy
- The ability to Share Simple Pleasures
- Friendship
Unconditional Love
Love isn't just a feeling. It's an action. We experience unconditional love through our senses (a smile, a hug, a kind word, or even a nourishing meal). When love is withheld, whether by others or through our own subconscious blocks, it can be profoundly harmful and even abusive.
A prolonged absence of love and joy can drain your energy and leave you more vulnerable to stress-related symptoms and, when living with herpes, more frequent and severe outbreaks. Everyone needs unconditional love. It helps us feel safe, valued, and whole. But love from others alone isn't enough. Self-love is equally essential to be able to receive love from others. Why? Because if you don't love yourself, you won't let others love you.
In essence, the more love you give, the more love you'll receive, and the more love you receive, the more you can provide. In a perfect world or a perfect relationship (with all of its imperfections), love should be a never-ending verb.
Understanding & Intimacy
Understanding and intimacy are vital factors in developing and maintaining healthy relationships. It's essential to be intimate. I'm not talking about sex. Intimacy isn't sex, although it can be an expression of it. Intimacy is the ability to be close, be yourself, and feel safe in that closeness as you reveal yourself to another. You cannot have intimacy without kindness, and kindness takes understanding. Acts of understanding and kindness allow us to remain relaxed (without tension) and our emotions to be content enough to be intimate (open and close).
The Ability to Share Simple Pleasures
You can't truly live or feel alive without using your senses. Enjoying the simple things in life, such as a golden sunset, a puppy bounding clumsily across the grass, or cuddling beside a loved one during a movie, lifts your spirits and fills you with love and joy. Why? Because you have the opportunity to respond to your senses in a positive way that promotes wellness. Healthy relationships are one of the cornerstones of emotional and physical health, and sharing simple pleasures benefits the overall health of your relationships.
Friendship
Friendship results from sharing unconditional love, understanding (kindness), intimacy (as in sharing your fears and feeling safe doing so), and the ability to share simple pleasures. Most of us value being in a love relationship, which is a healthy goal. However, we may attract the wrong people if we are soft-hearted and peace-seeking, which is often a sign of an underlying need to feel secure. If your relationship isn't built on healthy foundations, it can become a significant source of stress.
Is Your Relationship Stuck?
Getting your relationship unstuck can be as simple as committing to putting some joy back into your life by scheduling a date night once a month, or as complicated as going through a divorce and piecing together the leftover pieces of your life in a meaningful way.
If your relationship is truly stuck, it's adversely affecting your health. The following information can help you determine whether your relationship is salvageable and, if not, what steps to take next.
