Being in a romantic relationship
A healthy romantic relationship contains a few basic ingredients. Do you know the recipe?
The secret recipe for a healthy love affair 😍
In a healthy romantic relationship, you always find certain basic ingredients. Here’s the secret recipe for a wonderful relationship!
- Lots of communication 💬 💌
This is the foundation! In love, we need room to say what we feel, to listen, and to feel that the other person is listening to us, even at difficult times. - A big scoop of commitment 📖
If you’re important to each other, you find time to be together, and you share the same vision of the relationship, that’s a good sign! - A large cupful of trust ☕️
Trust is built up gradually. In a good relationship, you feel more and more comfortable with the other person, and more and more able to be your true self. You know you can count on your partner and he/she can count on you. - A big pinch of balance ⚖️
In a relationship, there has to be room for both people’s plans, ideas, needs, and expectations. Both partners feel equally important, and each one can make decisions. - A dash of magic ❤️
Love, humour, sharing, harmony, togetherness… Each day, love is revealed in a wealth of small acts of respect and affection. Every couple is unique!
Can you identify these ingredients in your relationship? 🤔 Do the people around you have healthy relationships? If you’re wondering, talk about it with a friend, an adult you trust, or the team at Tel-jeunes!
Living a long-distance relationship
Long-distance relationships can last for weeks, months or even the whole duration of a relationship. There are many reasons why partners might be physically separated from one another, like moving away for school, having very different work schedules and, these days.
While it’s possible to adapt and make your relationship work at a distance, it’s not always easy for everyone. Here are some tips that you might find helpful.
Communication 101
Nonviolent communication
is an effective problem-solving technique. Are you curious? Check it out here!
Nonverbal communication
is just as important as words to convey a message. Do you know how to use it?
Words that hurt
can be as painful as a slap or a punch. Do you know how to avoid them?
You want to know...
When a conflict arises in a couple, you need to find the cause. Often it's because of different need, jealousy, infidelity, and sometimes it emotional dependancy that is the cause.
On the other hand, a problembetween two people rarely resolves itself: solving a disagreement or misunderstanding always requires effort on both sides.
If you’re in a relationship and you’re interested in someone else, you may feel the need to talk about it, or you may not. It’s normal to sometimes have a crush on someone or to experience a fleeting attraction. 👀 If it won’t affect your relationship, it may not be worth discussing.
If, however, you feel that the situation is hurting your relationship, that you’re no longer yourself or that your partner is suspicious, perhaps you should have a conversation. By being honest and showing your partner that they’re important to you, you’ll have a better chance of maintaining their trust. Of course, you need to be open to the possibilities of their reaction. Your partner may feel hurt, angry, or sad.
You may also want to talk about it because you’re unsure about your relationship, or because you think it’s normal to talk about it. You know best!
You can decide to have sex with the person you love, or you can decide not to. It’s a very personal decision. Respect yourself and go at your own pace. You’re allowed to not be ready or not want to. It doesn’t mean you don’t love your partner! Sex is not the only way to express love.
What are you going through right now? Are you feeling pressured to have sex? Or are you just wondering whether you should or not? If you’re not sure, ask a friend or a trusted adult for advice. It’s an important decision, and you need to feel comfortable with whatever you choose to do.