Relationships are a huge and important part of our lives. There are different kinds of relationships—romantic and nonromantic, casual and committed, nonexclusive and monogamous. These relationships help make up your social support network, which is vital to your physical and mental health.
A relationship is a mutually satisfying emotional and physical bond that creates trust and intimacy. The pillars of healthy relationships are love, honesty, communication, mutual respect, and a sense of interdependence (where you both depend on each other for support but maintain your own identity). A relationship is also based on the level of intimacy that exists—the closeness that results in knowing someone’s deepest fears and hopes and dreams, which can be both physically and emotionally intimate.
Intimate relationships often include sex, but this isn’t always the case and there are healthy ways to be intimate. Some people find a great deal of emotional intimacy through activities that don’t involve sex, such as sharing a meal together or playing video games. Some people also find that being able to share their passions with their partner, such as taking a night class or running a marathon, is a big part of their relationship. These kinds of shared experiences can help keep a relationship fresh and fun. They can also give you a chance to focus on your own goals and personal growth, which is critical for maintaining a healthy relationship. This allows both partners to maintain their own independence and can help prevent one person from using the other as a way to fill in gaps in their life.