Healthy relationships take time, energy and a great deal of care. No relationship will be free of disagreements, but every successful relationship will meet the greater needs of the people involved. While you can't control the way your partner acts, you can control how you respond to both positive and negative situations. Taking responsibility for your actions and holding your partner responsible for her/his actions is going to make a difference in the long run.
Take the pledge to have a healthy relationship by being a responsible partner.
The Pledge:
I pledge to do my part in creating a healthy relationship. I will be mindful of the following:
* Communication and Openness: One of the most important aspects of any healthy relationship is communication and openness. Being able to talk, listen and share your feelings with another person is necessary for any healthy relationship.
* Respect and Trust: In healthy relationships, people respect each other for who they are. For any relationship to work, you must have a mutual trust. Lying, even if it's to protect another person's feelings, can create tension and disconnection in a relationship.
* Sexuality and Sexual Health: Everyone needs love, intimacy, affection and affirmation, but to avoid anger or resentment, take time to talk and discuss your expectations around birth control and pregnancy with your partner early in your relationship.
* Support: In both good times and bad, you should support your partner, and don't expect she/he agrees with you on everything. Having a healthy relationship means that each partner will contribute equally to strengthen the relationship.
