“A healthy relationship will never require you to sacrifice your friends, your dreams or your dignity. [It] doesn’t drag you down. It inspires you to be better.”
Mandy Hale
Is your relationship healthy? Take some time to ask yourself these 6 questions.
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Can you and your boyfriend resolve conflict?
ALL relationships have conflicts, but good relationships can resolve conflicts in a healthy way. Being able to resolve conflict means fighting fair, hearing your partner out, and being willing to compromise.
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Does he respect your beliefs?
You should never sacrifice things you believe strongly in for the sake of a relationship. You don’t have to agree on everything, but you DO have to respect each others differences.
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Does he communicate with you?
Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. Most conflict begins with some level of miscommunication. A good place to start is to listen more than you talk.
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Is he pressuring you into having sex because it is the “next step” in your relationship?
A lot of girls think sex is necessary to keep a guy…not true! A real man will wait for you and respect your boundaries. Remember, adding sex to a relationship means that you are adding the chance of getting pregnant. Are both of you ready for the possibility of pregnancy? What would you do if you get pregnant? Are you ready to discuss parenting, adoption, and abortion? Those are life changing things. The outcome of sex can literally change your life forever. Then there’s the whole STD discussion. Have you been tested? Has he been tested? Remember, every time you have sex with someone, it’s as if you are having sex with anyone else they have ever had sex with (in terms of you being “exposed” to STD’s any of those people may have and may have passed on to your partner who could then pass it on to you). That’s a lot to think about.
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Is he jealous?
Jealousy can be dangerous. Reasons behind it could be low self-confidence, lack of trust, or an unhealthy need for control. It can show itself in controlling what you do or where you go, anger when you speak to others, discouraging you from seeing family or friends, etc.
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Is he abusive?
Abuse is never okay, no matter how it appears. Abuse can be physical, like harming or threatening to harm someone. It can also be emotional, like constantly putting you down. If your relationship is showing any signs of abuse, it needs to be ended immediately.
While healthy relationships always take ongoing hard work and commitment, the answers to the above questions are deal breakers. Relationships are always a choice. Make sure you’re making a healthy one.
