Through the Millennial Lens: What Would You Consider a Healthy Relationship? Understanding the Key Elements

I’d like you to do an exercise with me. Close your eyes and imagine the healthiest relationship you can think of. What does it look like? How do you feel when you see it? What colors do you see? Do you smell anything? Now, I want you to think about how your body responds to this imaginary healthy relationship. Do your muscles relax, do you lean forward, or even smile? Or do you feel yourself feeling cold or your body going tense? Do feelings of envy come over you? However you feel in this moment, it's important to recognize what that healthy relationship looks like to you and how it might make you feel. Does this feel like a new relationship? Or something that took time? How are the individuals speaking to each other? In this blog post, we will explore some new concepts, reflect on a few questions, and think about how they relate to relationships.

1. Communication:

Think for a moment about how you communicate with the people in your life. Do you usually get what you need from those conversations? How does a good conversation feel to you? Is communication something that is important to you?

2. Respect:

What does respect mean to you? Is it valuing each other's opinions, boundaries, and individuality? Do the choices, beliefs, and personal space of the people in your life establish a sense of safety and trust within the relationship?  How do you respect yourself? How do you show respect to others?

3. Trust:

Who do you trust in your life? Do you trust yourself? Stop and think about how you feel when you cannot trust someone. For millennials, trust and safety go hand in hand. As an adult that has experienced a post-9/11 world, a recession, and countless other world events, trust and safety are foundational in our relationships. 

4. Independence:

What would you need in a healthy relationship? Would considering each person's needs, desires, goals, and values assist the individuals to maintain their own independence?

5. Empathy:

As millennials, we are challenged to grow by learning to support and empathize with others as an integral part of healthy relationships. The task of showing understanding, compassion, and being there for others during both the good and challenging times can help strengthen any emotional bond. How can we as millennials build our capacity for empathy in our relationships? How are you showing empathy to others in your life? 

6. Conflict Resolution:

Would you agree that disagreements and conflicts are natural in any relationship? Often, how we handle them may determine the health and longevity of our relationships. What does healthy conflict resolution look like to you? Does it  entail avoiding blame, criticism, or defensiveness? Consider why this may be important to you and how it could enhance your life. 

7. Quality Time and Shared Interests: 

Do we as millennials want quality time or do we just want to be left alone? Exploring ways to foster connections and strengthen bonds can be important to prioritize amidst the busyness of everyday life. How do you enhance and build nurturing relationships? Are you committed to invest the time it takes to explore  the concepts of quality time and shared interests which can enhance your relationships? If you’re ready to explore this topic and other concepts like it, contact us here at Cultivating Healthy Relationships LLC.

“Until next time, Happy Cultivating!”