What makes for a happy relationship? Certainly, there are some obvious answers about honesty and fidelity. But with almost 50 percent of marriages failing for a variety of reasons – incompatibility, abuse, addiction, bad communication, betrayal, attachment issues – it is worth investigating the qualities happy couples have in common.
Many people lack role models for healthy, long-term relationships. Through a fuller understanding of what these have in common, you can begin to practice behaviors that will make your relationship happier and healthier.
It’s hard, but we know that with commitment, partners can start healing old wounds and discover new ways of relating to achieve happiness.
Traits of Happy & Healthy Couples
With more than 40 years of experience in family therapy, we have seen countless couples build happy and healthy partnerships. Here we share some of the traits these relationships share:
- They have come to terms with their past and can fully invest in the relationship.
- They are able to balance togetherness and autonomy, dependence and independence.
- They can trust and rely on one another. They are a “secure base” for each other and seek and enjoy intimacy with each other without being afraid of closeness.
- They have good communication and problem-solving skills and are respectful and constructive when talking about conflicts and disagreements. They can share thoughts and feelings in an open, honest and caring way, and listen with empathy and understanding.
- They do not become defensive, angry, critical, or aggressive when their partner shares feelings or gives feedback and each partner is able to apologize for wrongdoings.
- They share power and control and are a partnership between equals.
- They meet one another’s needs for security, support, affection and love. Partners feel safe and sheltered – mind, body and spirit.
- They both take responsibility for their part in problems and solutions: no blaming, avoiding or stonewalling. (Divorce is more common among couples who have a pattern of angry accusations followed by avoidance and emotional distance.)
- They keep the relationship alive, vital, and a priority. They spend time together, have fun and show love regularly.
- They use self-control and do not take out stress and frustration on their partner.
- They resolve problems. They work on repairing grievances and wounds, so hurts do not grow into big resentments. They forgive one another for mistakes and hurtful actions and practice self-forgiveness.
- They adapt successfully to changes and challenges, such as having children and form a united team in raising children.
- They are both comfortable with closeness.
- They do not take part in destructive dynamics. People in high-conflict marriages are 10 times more likely to have depression and other health problems.
- They share basic values, interests, and moral codes of behavior.
If you need help healing your relationship, don’t hesitate to contact Evergreen Psychotherapy Center.
My spouse and I have been married for 57 years. She was 18 and I was 19 when we were married. How we survived those early years was a miracle! We fought, pouted, disagreed, you know everything immature people do. Today we are so much in love and so very grateful we stuck it out with the help of numerous marriage counseling sessions, our church and 12 step programs. We are truly blest.
Yes. You are truly blessed.