If you’re in a relationship, you might be wondering if you’ve found the ideal person with whom you plan to spend the rest of your life. But how do you know?
Looking for green flags is one of the best ways to assess the health of your relationship.
Follow along to learn more about green flags, how to recognize them, and what to do to foster them in your own relationship.
Now, we know to be mindful of red flags when it comes to dating, but are there signs of a healthy relationship you can look out for?
Yes! We call these signs green flags, as they usually suggest you’ve got a good thing going on in the love department. They mean you’re in a solid, trusting relationship with a partner who makes you feel confident, comfortable, and secure.
Green flags are healthy relationship traits that signal you’re with a supportive partner who treats you right. These are positive relationship indicators, as they represent the qualities of a strong partnership.
We’re taught to recognize red flags as reasons to run for the hills—or at least reassess our situations or partners. Red flags are often warning signs, as they signal you might be in a toxic or unhealthy relationship. For example, a red flag might signify that your partner isn’t willing to commit to you or that you don’t mutually respect each other.
While it’s good to watch for red flags, looking for green flags is just as important because they’re often signs of long-term relationship success. When you learn to identify positive relationship indicators, you’ll have an easier time attracting and maintaining healthy partnerships.
What are some positive relationship indicators? The following are some of the most important green flags to look for when dating.
Good communication is a major sign of a healthy relationship, as it shows you and your partner can discuss everything, from the light stuff to the heavy stuff. You both should feel safe and secure having tough discussions and being open and honest with one another because this kind of communication is what will see you through the good and bad times.
Does your partner actively listen to what you say? Do you give your partner the space to speak without interrupting them? And do you allow yourselves room to discuss, disagree, and come to resolutions as a couple? If so, then this is a good sign for your relationship and a major green flag in our book.
Mutual respect and support are key ingredients of long-term relationship success. These healthy relationship traits involve valuing, validating, and honoring each other’s thoughts, opinions, and boundaries.
When you show each other mutual respect and support, you focus on empathizing with each other and offering encouragement. You should feel like you have each other’s backs and are team players in your relationship.
Being on the same page is an important factor in a relationship moving in the right direction. It means you’ve had open conversations about your relationship goals and values. For example, is marriage in the cards for you, or are you just looking for something low-key for now? And what about starting a family? Are you open to the idea of having kids, or would you prefer to stay child-free?
The same goes for sharing similar values. Sure, sometimes opposites attract, but it’s important to be aligned on certain matters. For instance, do you share similar political beliefs? And what about your views on religion? Do you see eye-to-eye, or are you on totally different ends of the spectrum?
While it’s okay to have differing opinions at times, it helps not to have completely polarizing views of the world. If you both share similar values and goals, then this could be a green flag in your relationship.
Emotional safety and trust are other examples of green flags. When you and your partner have emotional safety in your relationship, it means you both feel comfortable being vulnerable and open with each other. You know that you feel safe being authentic and can express your thoughts and feelings without judgment, which fosters trust and honesty.
You can rely on and depend on your partner when you’re in a safe and trustworthy relationship, helping to establish a healthy foundation.
Every relationship faces hiccups along the way. In fact, it’s normal to have conflicts in your relationship. However, it’s the way you address and resolve these conflicts that can determine whether you’re in a viable relationship or not.
If you and your partner take a healthy approach to conflict resolution in your relationship, you’ll address the issues head-on—having an open discussion where you can both explain how you feel without judgment or interruptions. This conflict resolution should involve respecting each other’s points of view, practicing empathy, and working toward a compromise. Healthy conflict resolution also means you understand that while you may not solve your issues overnight, you are both committed to working through them together.
If you’re currently in a relationship, how do you know if it will stand the test of time? The following are common signs of a strong and lasting relationship.
When you’re in a relationship with someone respectful and supportive, you should feel comfortable letting it all hang out. That means telling your partner all the goofy names you gave the ducks in your neighborhood, allowing them to see you without makeup, and expressing your disappointment when something doesn’t go your way. It’s ok for you to let your guard down and for them to see you being silly, giddy with excitement, sad, or frustrated.
You shouldn’t feel like you have to put on an act or be a certain person around your partner. If you’re in a healthy relationship, your partner will appreciate every aspect of you, including the good, the bad, and yes, even the ugly.
Another sign of a healthy relationship is that you and your partner encourage each other’s personal growth.
You should be in each other’s corner, cheering each other on every step of the way. This might involve supporting your partner’s desire to enroll in nursing school or their newfound interest in learning how to play guitar.
Whether you’re both working toward career, health, or hobby goals, you should be each other’s number one fans, encouraging each other to achieve them.
If you and your partner balance time together with time apart, then you’re on a good track. While it’s important to prioritize quality time spent together one-on-one, it’s equally important to spend time alone or with your respective friends and relatives.
You’re encouraged to have separate interests, hobbies, and friends that you can enjoy before returning to your relationship. This time apart helps you recharge and show up to the relationship as the best version of yourself.
You and your partner both need to put equal effort into the relationship. This means prioritizing each other and committing to the growth and happiness of your relationship. For example, you should dedicate time to having conversations without distractions, take turns planning date nights, and collectively make plans for the future.
However, if it feels like only one of you is making an effort and trying to single-handedly keep the relationship afloat, then it may be time to reconsider whether you’re both in it for the long haul.
Ok, so you recognize these green flags in your own relationship. Now, what? How do you maintain them? Practice these strategies to help keep your relationship alive and well.
Open communication is the driving force in any healthy relationship. If you and your partner are able to sit down and have honest conversations about difficult topics, then you’re setting yourself up for success.
While encouraging open communication, remember to practice active listening, respect each other, empathize, and look for common ground and ways to compromise. However, this is not something you do once in a blue moon; you should ensure you have open lines of communication in your relationship every day.
Continuing to invest in the relationship relates to our advice on commitment and effort. You and your partner must be mutually interested in making your relationship thrive.
What can you both do to enhance your relationship? And how can you improve your connection while supporting each other? It might be something as simple as sending each other thoughtful text messages, scheduling weekly date nights, or picking up takeout on the way home from work after your partner had a stressful day. Or, it could be bigger gestures like planning a getaway together and celebrating milestones in your relationship.
No matter how big or small, these gestures offer ways to show up and invest in your relationship.
Finally, it’s crucial to maintain mutual respect and understanding in your relationship. This goes back to our point about fostering open communication, listening to each other, and practicing empathy and compassion. Check in on each other, ask how you can be a better partner, and try to put yourself in each other’s shoes.
When you share a mutual respect and understanding for each other, you’ll have the foundation to build a strong and long-lasting relationship.
If you’re struggling to find these supportive partner signs in your own relationships, Tawkify can help. Our professional matchmakers understand these positive relationship indicators and know how to match you with singles with these qualities.
When you sign up for our services, we’ll host one-on-one consultations to learn about all your relationship preferences. We then scour our database of relationship-ready singles to hand-select potential matches that align with your criteria and have these traits that can contribute to a healthy relationship.
Ready to find your perfect match? Contact us today!
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