Building a lasting, healthy relationship is never easy, but it can be made easier. And one of the best and easiest ways to do this is to be able to recognize all of the good that your partner brings to the table.
So often we get caught up in looking for the ‘ideal’ mate, which can damage our concept of love. Most of us are simply looking for a person who we can talk to, who shares similar values in life; someone we can lean on during tough times and celebrate with during the good times. Someone who we can lovingly build something with.
If your partner does any of these five things, they’re worth holding onto:
(1) Knowing how to deal with your anger.
Anger is a natural human emotion, one that we feel regularly. Some of us feel it more often than others and we all express it in different ways.
Having a partner who knows your anger, and how to deal with it in a healthy way, can easily be a make-or-break quality, especially for those people who have short fuses.
(2) Your partner trusts you entirely.
Trust is at the core of every successful relationship, because without it, what do you really have? A hollow relationship that focuses on the negative instead of the positive.
Trusting your partner means knowing that he or she always has your best interests in mind, and that they will never intentionally do something to hurt you. This means no snooping through email accounts or trying to break into phones.
(3) Your partner believes in you.
The most natural part of life is growth. When you’re in a healthy relationship, you’re focused on growing with your partner as a couple, while also continuing your individual path of growth. And a large part of both of these is having the unwavering support of your partner in all matters of life.
A person who keeps morale high and the spirit strong is always worth holding onto.
(4) Respecting your friends and family.
While having the acceptance and approval of friends and family members should never be 100 percent required, it certainly says a lot about your partner when you do have it. Invite your partner to family gatherings and see how he or she interacts with them.
If your family and friends are visibly happy about your relationship or partner, it can only mean good things.
(5) Your partner makes your fears and worries disappear.
A good partner is a safe haven for us during times of duress, turmoil or disappointment.
They’re there to tell us that everything will be okay and show us unconditional love. They’re the ones who tell us to drive safe during trips, who get worried when we’re not at our best–they are the lighthouses that guide us to safety as we struggle through crashing waves and the darkest of storms.
If your partner is your pillar of strength, you can be sure that he or she is a keeper.
