“Did you know, …..healthy relationships positively impact our physical and emotional health, boost our self-esteem and raise our energy levels?”, asked Harmony Curtiss, Director for Healing Hands School of Holistic Health – Laguna Hills. “These holistic health benefits are felt by the children of happy partners as well. In fact, studies show that children from stable, nurturing homes environments are at a reduced risk of physical, emotional, social, and educational problems. Promoting loving, supportive relationships means practicing the attitudes and activities they require”, she added.
At Healing Hands, all Massage and Holistic-Health Instructors, teach by example promoting healthy relationships daily! They model kindness, respect, healthy boundaries, tolerance and personal responsibility. Below are 10 characteristics that partners in healthy relationships report as essential to keeping their relationships thriving….
Attitudes & Behaviors that Promote Healthy Relationships
- Separate Identities – It is important to maintain respect for your partner’s individuality. Be respectful of their personal beliefs and convictions.
- Equality – Neither partner should act as an authoritative parent or a submissive child. Healthy partners value themselves and each other.
- Good Communication – Rather than employ emotional coercion or manipulation, healthy relationships allow both partners to ask for what they want and need.
- Mutuality – An understanding that you and your partner have equal value and power in the relationship. You value each other’s points of view and support their dreams and aspirations. When you encounter disagreements, you can work together to find compromise.
- Trust – Both partners have enough of a history to have demonstrated honesty and integrity under a variety of circumstances. You strive to maintain authenticity in the relationship.
- Safety – A relationship is meant to be a safe-haven where each partner is free to express their unique opinions and live by their own convictions. There is no room for ridicule, intimidation or fear of reprisal in healthy relationships.
- Emotional Support – Healthy partners encourage each other to learn, grow, and maintain good relationships with friends and family. Each partner takes an interest in one another’s dreams and daily activities.
- Fight Fair – Partners who enjoy healthy relationships respect one another enough to resolve their conflicts in a fair way. They address disagreements promptly, remain respectful and strive to clear the air when necessary to keep resentment from take root and deepening over time.
- Set and Enforce Personal Boundaries – Healthy relationships requires partners to feel comfortable and secure enough to set and enforce boundaries. For example, you may say: “it is NOT okay to yell at me or use foul language, even if we argue. If you do that again, I will end the discussion and walk away. I will not re-engage until you’ve cooled down and can discuss this rationally.”
- Respect Each Other – Healthy partners do not attempt to demean, control or manipulate their partners. They avoid profanity, negative judgement and unsolicited criticism. Respecting your Partner means being fair and supportive, even in times of disagreement, challenge or difficulty.
Healing Hands School of Holistic Health has been serving residents throughout Southern California for over 27 years. To date, their top-notch Faculty has prepared more than 7,000 students for rewarding careers and can do the same for YOU! To learn more, go online to www.HealingHandsSchool.com or call us at (858) 505-1100 in San Diego (Kearny Mesa), (760) 746-9364 in Escondido, or (949) 305-2722 in Laguna Hills.
Citations:
- Cummings EM, Davies PT. Marital Conflict and Children. An Emotional Security Perspective. New York: Guilford; (2010).
- Fomby P, Cherlin AJ. Family instability and child well-being. Am Sociol Rev (2007) 72(2):181–204.10.1177/000312240707200203 [PMC free article]
- Kamp Dush CM, Taylor MG, Kroeger RA. Marital happiness and psychological well-being across the life course. Fam Relat (2008) 57(2):211–26.10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00495.x [PMC free article]
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