Last Updated on 16/01/2024 by Steve Wanjie
What Makes a Loving Relationship?
Love is a complicated subject.
But science reveals some surprising insights about what it takes to have a healthy, happy relationship.
In the 1990s, a team of psychologists led by Dr. John Gottman set up a lab at the University of Washington where they studied couples and their relationships for over twenty years.
They analyzed more than 3,000 couples and found that four major elements make up the core of a successful relationship.
When we talk about what makes a loving relationship, we often use the term “chemistry.”
But as it turns out, there is much more to it than chemistry.
Four key components make up a loving relationship:
*Trust
*Respect
*Equality
*Safety
What is Love? A Brief History of How We Understand Love in Modern Times
Love is the most powerful human emotion and a fundamental human need.
You can break it down into three types:
Eros love– sexual attraction
Ludus love– playful or innocent love that is not necessarily sexual
Storge love– familial or friendly love that may develop into a romantic relationship.
There were eight forms of “love” in ancient Greece categorized as different.
What are the eight forms of love?
These eight forms are;
- Eros
- Philia
- Agape
- Storge
- Philautia
- Ludus
- Pragma
- Mania
The Greeks believed that all these different types of love combined to make one proper form of love which they called Eroticism.
The ancient Greeks thought it was the joining of Ludus and Storge Love to create mutual feelings of care, which later evolved into the modern-day word ‘love.’
So, in the 21st century, what is love?
Love is an emotion often described as a strong affection or deep attraction.
Love is when you are attracted to someone and want to spend time with them.
It’s also when you feel happy when they are happy and feel hurt when they’re hurt.
Love can be described as caring for someone so much that it hurts.
Love is a strong and positive emotion of affection and personal attachment. Love is a virtue, something to aspire to.
Love can have other meanings, such as “a deep feeling of sexual desire.”
What are modern-day relationships?
The sexual revolution, feminism, and the LGBTQ movement have changed how we live and think about relationships.
Relationships are now more fluid, less dependent on gender, and more open.
Relationships now depend not only on the connection between two people but also on their openness to explore different things in life.
Ultimately, it is up to you what your relationship looks like and how committed you want it to be.
The only rule is that there should be honesty and respect for each other at all times.
Relationships are a direct consequence of societal pressures.
For example, relationships should have certain character traits or behavioral patterns.
It is one primary reason why so many people believe that they do not have what it takes to find love or form a relationship.
Modern relationships are either temporary, monogamous, or long-term.
They are more like casual dating than what previous generations would call “marriage.”
The world today is vastly different than the one in which our great grandparents grew up.
Divorce rates have skyrocketed, and the idea of marrying for life is not what it used to be.
Present World Relations:
Historically, humans were always attracted to the idea of finding a partner.
Nowadays, however, the idea of finding a partner is different from before.
Many people have become disillusioned with the idea of marriage and want to find their perfect match without being committed for the long term.
Nowadays, many people are looking for a relationship that is more “casual.”
The term “casual” means that people do not commit to each other and can stop talking whenever they wish to.
Latest studies on relationships findings:
❝People are more likely to break up with someone with the same level of attractiveness as themselves.❞
A recent study has found that people are more likely to break up with someone with the same level of attractiveness.
The study, which researchers at Stanford University conducted, surveyed 521 adults on their dating habits and found that this trend was more prominent in couples on the same level of attractiveness.
There are many studies conducted on relationships.
For example, one study found that people in relationships tend to be happier than those who are single.
The study concluded this because the couples were more likely to be mindful, feel more connected, and have higher self-esteem.
The question is whether or not it is worth spending years trying to find the perfect partner when there are millions of people in the world.
What Makes a Loving Relationship: Healthy Relationships Require Communication From Both Partners
Communication is one of the best ways to make a relationship healthy and thriving.
Conversely, if people in a relationship are not communicating correctly, it can cause many problems.
Communication is essential in every aspect of life, not just in relationships.
For example, it is crucial to communicate with others when buying groceries to negotiate salary.
Communication skills are necessary for everyone, but they are a treasure for people who work with other people regularly – like doctors or customer service representatives.
The ability to communicate well starts with being aware of how you feel and what you want out of life.
Without knowing these things, it cannot be easy to express them to make sense and maintain the balance in the relationship.
Communication skills also have emotional intelligence aspects that need nurturing.
These elements are vital in the workplace, where people work daily.
His secret obsession: How to improve your relationship with the man you want and win his love.
Qualities to Look for in a Healthy Relationship
It is essential to have trust, love, and respect in a relationship.
These three words are the ABCs of healthy relationships.
However, it is not enough to have one or two of these qualities.
The more you have, the better your connection will be.
A successful relationship has mutual trust and respect for each other.
One way to develop confidence in a relationship is by being honest with each other.
It means that if either partner needs to keep a secret from the other, they should tell them why they need to keep it and how long they will need to do so.
What Makes a Loving Relationship: How to have a successful relationship?
Relationships are difficult.
The lack of communication, personality clashes, and numerous other challenges make the process arduous.
But when there is love, things can be much easier.
While it is impossible to guarantee a perfect relationship, there are a few things that you can do to ensure a healthy and happy one.
We must learn to communicate more openly with our partners and listen and speak.
It is difficult for two people with different personalities to live together, but you do it through compromise and understanding one another needs.
It might take time, but it will eventually pay off if both of you work on it together.
A successful relationship is a balancing act.
It takes time, patience, and effort to maintain the commitment and love that make up a healthy relationship.
A relationship can be successful when both partners work for its success.
They must be willing to talk about their feelings with each other because by doing this, they can understand each other better.
They should not keep any secrets because this will make it harder for them to maintain trust in the relationship.
Both partners need to spend time together to strengthen their bond and enjoy themselves together without any distractions.
Having a successful relationship is not difficult.
It just takes a certain level of maturity and commitment from both partners.
Both partners need to be committed to the process in a loving relationship.
One partner cannot just take off and focus on themselves while the other partner does all the work.
For the relationship to thrive, both people need to make time for each other, communicate about their day, and compromise when necessary.
What constitutes a healthy relationship?
A healthy relationship is a relationship that is not too needy.
A healthy romantic relationship is one where both partners are happy and comfortable with the level of attention they receive from each other.
But there’s no such thing as a perfect partner; we all need some levels of personal space and time to ourselves, and in the same way, we should be able to offer this to our partner.
It is important to remember that while it’s vital for an individual’s self-esteem and independence, it can also be harmful to a partner if they’re always on the receiving end of everything their significant other does or thinks about them.
A good rule of thumb would be: if you think your partner might want more time on their own, but you don’t know how to respond when they ask for it, try asking them if there’s anything you can do to help them feel better or give them some space to do something they enjoy.
A healthy relationship is fulfilling for both partners.
A loving relationship provides support, love, acceptance, and safety.
The primary criteria for a healthy relationship are:
- Mutual respect
- Mutual support
- Mutual understanding
- Mutual empathy
- Acceptance of reality as it is now – not as they wish it would be.
A healthy relationship is one in which both individuals are confident and feel safe and secure.
This type of relationship thrives through open communication and emotional support.
A healthy relationship consists of two people who deeply love and care for each other.
They feel each other’s joy, pain, and sorrow as their own.
A healthy relationship is between two people who understand themselves, and the other person can communicate their feelings honestly and are willing to work through the rough times together.
Qualities to look for in a Healthy Relationship
a) Trust
Why Trust is a Vital Quality to Look for in a Healthy Relationship?
Relationships are built on trust.
Without that, they cannot last.
Trust is the foundation of any relationship and should be considered an important quality to look for in a healthy relationship.
It can happen in many ways, such as obeying promises and commitments, listening intently, and being fully present to listen to your partner’s needs and desires.
It is a vital quality to look for in a healthy relationship because it allows you to be vulnerable and open up without the fear of being rejected or hurt.
Trusting someone else is an act of revealing your true self and letting them in.
People come to trust each other by understanding, to communicate, following through with promises, respecting boundaries, and being dependable.
b) Respect
Why is Respect a Vital Quality to Look for in a Healthy Relationship?
Respect is a critical quality in any relationship.
Therefore, you should understand that respect is key to any successful relationship.
You can show respect in many ways and note that it comes from the other person and you.
Some of these ways include;
- supporting their decisions
- listening to them
- expecting them to do their part
Respect should be the goal for every type of relationship because, without it, no progress because there would be disagreements all the time and people would not feel valued.
In a healthy relationship, the partners feel the need to respect each other.
c) Equality
Why Equality is a Vital Factor to Look for in a Healthy Relationship?
One of the most critical characteristics of a healthy relationship is equality.
Equality in a relationship means that both partners are willing to listen to each other, take care of each other, and show love.
Equality also means that both partners are willing to compromise when necessary.
Equality in relationships is vital because it offers the opportunity for both partners to be happy with their partner and their relationship.
Without equality, one partner can feel taken advantage of or not listened to or loved by the other partner.
The critical difference between inequality and equality is that inequality leads to one partner feeling inferior to the other while equality leads both partners to feel equal.
d) Safety
Why is Safety a Vital Quality to Look for in a Healthy Relationship?
Safety is an essential aspect of any relationship.
The ability to feel safe is something that everyone desires.
When you are in a healthy relationship, there are no hidden motives or ulterior motives.
You know that you can trust your partner with your most vulnerable moments and know they will not judge you for them.
There is an emotional safety net in place, one where even if things do go sour, the other person will be there to help pick up the pieces and provide emotional support.
Conclusion: What Makes a Loving Relationship?
By understanding the science of what makes up a healthy relationship, you can better understand improving your own romantic life.
We will conclude by giving you a few ideas to make your relationship stronger and happier.
First, you should not be afraid to take it slow.
Relationships should happen when we are ready, and we should respect the other person’s boundaries.
Second, be honest with your partner and understand what they want from you.
Third, don’t forget about the importance of sensuality in a healthy relationship.
That concludes our article on how to make your relationship better!
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Steve Wanjie is a digital marketing specialist, SEO Expert, expert article writer, blogger, sex educationist, and businessman. He is the founder of Dijito Marketing and Laikipo.com. He works and lives in Nairobi Kenya.
