Love Files: What Is a Healthy Relationship?
Bae should make you feel safe and loved.
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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)
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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)
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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
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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)
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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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