Relationships are vital to our well-being. Studies show that having a partner can make us happier, healthier, and longer-lived than being alone. Positive relationships provide us with someone to lean on during tough times and give us a boost when we need it. They add meaning to our lives and help us cope with stress, anxiety, depression and other difficulties.
Relationship definitions vary, but they usually include a feeling of mutual attachment and a commitment to each other. They also involve a balance of giving and taking. Relationships can be informal, such as those with friends, coworkers or neighbors, or formal, such as marriage or an extended family unit. They can also be platonic, intimate or sexual in nature.
While it is important to be able to communicate differences with your partner, it is equally important to know when a relationship has gone awry and may need to end. Infidelity, arguments and a general decline in feelings of closeness are some of the reasons why relationships can break apart. However, there are many more everyday threats that can slowly erode the positive aspects of a relationship.
A healthy relationship is based on trust. Trust includes believing that your partner will not lie or cheat to you, and that they are emotionally available to you when you need them. It also means knowing that your partner supports you in your goals, dreams and personal choices. It is no wonder that people who are in stable and loving relationships are often more able to take risks, chase their dreams and be happy and content.