6 Ways to a Healthy Relationship
Psychologist Selin Karabulut shares 6 tips for a healthy relationship, from respecting differences to keeping the spark alive.
Relationships are not a race, but a valuable process in which two people move forward as a 'we'. Expert Psychologist Selin Karabulut emphasizes the importance of managing this process in the healthiest way and offers 6 suggestions for a healthy relationship.
Respect your differences
We are all different and enriched by our differences. Accepting this from the start and allowing space for your differences strengthens the relationship and helps it last.
Don't turn it into a competition
Don't pay attention to sayings like 'the woman rules at home, the man outside.' Every relationship is unique, and who is dominant where can change—or no one needs to be dominant. What's wrong is turning this into a competition. A relationship should never become a race or a battle. What matters is reaching a common ground and compromising at the end of the day. Remember, a relationship is a process to be enjoyed.
Consider expectations
In a relationship, both parties have the same basic expectations: love and respect. It's not right to think 'women want more love, men want more respect.' Everyone actually has the same expectations. Conflicts start when these expectations are not met enough.
Agree on a shared future
A healthy relationship should also have a shared future. This can be for a year from now or 30 years from now. For example, having a child should be in both parties' shared future—that is, if it's a common expectation and desire. Couples should not act under pressure from families saying 'we want grandchildren.'
Don't ignore sexual happiness
One of the indicators of a good relationship is a good sex life. Because emotional problems we experience also affect our sexuality, and this reflects on the relationship. We often hear clichés like 'sex life ends or decreases after marriage.' Instead of approaching with these preconceptions, it's important to listen to our own needs. Of course, priorities can change over time and may not put sexuality in the foreground. What matters is whether couples are happy with this situation and focus on solving any problems.
Create opportunities
The best way to keep love and the relationship alive is to create opportunities for ourselves. We should make time for ourselves, express our love, and create opportunities to keep the other person's feelings alive. Remember, love is not a known emotion but a felt one.
Source: mahmure
