Love Files: What Is a Healthy Relationship?

Bae should make you feel safe and loved.

Building a Stronger Bond With Bae - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. With so much focus on the warning signs, it’s also really important to emphasize what a healthy relationship actually is and how to build one with your partner. By Kellee Terrell  (Photo: Blend Images/Corbis)

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Building a Stronger Bond With Bae - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. With so much focus on the warning signs, it’s also really important to emphasize what a healthy relationship actually is and how to build one with your partner. By Kellee Terrell (Photo: Blend Images/Corbis)

You Gotta Talk - In order to get through things and get to know each other on a deeper level, you have to communicate — and in a way that is not always yelling and screaming, criticizing one another and being afraid to be honest about your feelings.  (Photo: Blend Images/Corbis)

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You Gotta Talk - In order to get through things and get to know each other on a deeper level, you have to communicate — and in a way that is not always yelling and screaming, criticizing one another and being afraid to be honest about your feelings. (Photo: Blend Images/Corbis)

Respecting Each Other’s Privacy - Being secure and having trust is important in a relationship — and part of this is dependent on respecting each other’s privacy. A healthy relationship is one where it’s not a requirement to be with each other all the time or know each other’s social media passwords and constantly be checking up with each other.  (Photo: Steve Prezant/Corbis)

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Respecting Each Other’s Privacy - Being secure and having trust is important in a relationship — and part of this is dependent on respecting each other’s privacy. A healthy relationship is one where it’s not a requirement to be with each other all the time or know each other’s social media passwords and constantly be checking up with each other. (Photo: Steve Prezant/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: Steve Prezant/Corbis

Create Boundaries - Being clear about what makes you comfortable in a relationship and what kind of relationship you want is really important. Whether it’s the need to use condoms, have time to hang out with friends and family without your partner or needing alone time or other non-negotiables, it’s important to set those expectations from jump.(Photo: Kevin Dodge/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Create Boundaries - Being clear about what makes you comfortable in a relationship and what kind of relationship you want is really important. Whether it’s the need to use condoms, have time to hang out with friends and family without your partner or needing alone time or other non-negotiables, it’s important to set those expectations from jump.(Photo: Kevin Dodge/Blend Images/Corbis)

Consent Is Key - Consent — when you both say “yes” at the same time to an aspect in your relationship — is an empowering thing to have. But keep in mind, just because you may have consented to something in the past, such as sex, that doesn't mean it is always that way. Consent cannot be assumed, and it's not automatic. It’s important to communicate and listen to each other when people say “no” and "stop" and when feelings are hurt.(Photo: Wavebreak Media LTD/Wavebreak Media Ltd./Corbis)

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Consent Is Key - Consent — when you both say “yes” at the same time to an aspect in your relationship — is an empowering thing to have. But keep in mind, just because you may have consented to something in the past, such as sex, that doesn't mean it is always that way. Consent cannot be assumed, and it's not automatic. It’s important to communicate and listen to each other when people say “no” and "stop" and when feelings are hurt.(Photo: Wavebreak Media LTD/Wavebreak Media Ltd./Corbis)

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Being Each Other’s Cheerleaders - It’s important for two people in a relationship to be able to support each other and be there for each other, especially when someone is in need. Also, a healthy partner shouldn’t be jealous or make their loved one feel guilty when good things come into their lives or if they succeed. Remember, you are both a team.(Photo: Daniel Grill/Tetra Images/Corbis)

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Being Each Other’s Cheerleaders - It’s important for two people in a relationship to be able to support each other and be there for each other, especially when someone is in need. Also, a healthy partner shouldn’t be jealous or make their loved one feel guilty when good things come into their lives or if they succeed. Remember, you are both a team.(Photo: Daniel Grill/Tetra Images/Corbis)

You Feel Comfortable Speaking Up - If you feel like you’d rather keep quiet or that you have to walk on eggshells around your partner, you have to ask yourself why. In a healthy relationship, you should always feel comfortable to be honest with your partner when things are bothering you about your relationship, without fear of repercussion.(Photo: Hero Images/Hero Images Inc./Hero Images/Corbis)

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You Feel Comfortable Speaking Up - If you feel like you’d rather keep quiet or that you have to walk on eggshells around your partner, you have to ask yourself why. In a healthy relationship, you should always feel comfortable to be honest with your partner when things are bothering you about your relationship, without fear of repercussion.(Photo: Hero Images/Hero Images Inc./Hero Images/Corbis)

You Gotta Compromise - Even the best couples have disagreements — and that’s OK, too. The key is how you deal with these conflicts and how much you are willing to give to each other because you cannot always get your way, and vice-versa. You have to try to compromise, but keep in mind that those compromises should be within your boundaries.(Photo: Wavebreak Media LTD/Wavebreak Media Ltd./Corbis)

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You Gotta Compromise - Even the best couples have disagreements — and that’s OK, too. The key is how you deal with these conflicts and how much you are willing to give to each other because you cannot always get your way, and vice-versa. You have to try to compromise, but keep in mind that those compromises should be within your boundaries.(Photo: Wavebreak Media LTD/Wavebreak Media Ltd./Corbis)

You Can Be Yourself - Whether you love working out, reading comic books, watching Scandal or going to church, your partner should appreciate that about you and encourage you to prosper in that. You also shouldn’t have to change your hobbies in order to be in your relationship or to make him or her happy.(Photo: Mike Kemp/Blend Images/Corbis)

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You Can Be Yourself - Whether you love working out, reading comic books, watching Scandal or going to church, your partner should appreciate that about you and encourage you to prosper in that. You also shouldn’t have to change your hobbies in order to be in your relationship or to make him or her happy.(Photo: Mike Kemp/Blend Images/Corbis)

Love Should Feel Good - From the time you spend together to the sex you are having, remember that relationships should make you feel awesome, not awful. If your love doesn’t feel good, it’s time to reevaluate your relationship. (Photo: Roberto Westbrook/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Love Should Feel Good - From the time you spend together to the sex you are having, remember that relationships should make you feel awesome, not awful. If your love doesn’t feel good, it’s time to reevaluate your relationship. (Photo: Roberto Westbrook/Blend Images/Corbis)