Good friendships/relationships are vital to the overall quality of our life. In fact, several research studies have shown that those with quality relationships also enjoy healthier mental and physical health, and the opposite is also true. A healthy friendship is one that is built on honesty, acceptance, and often enjoyment of mutual activities and common values. A healthy friendship is one that adds good things to your life and makes you feel respected and loved. 

We often talk about the red flags in friendships/relationships, but we never about what you should be looking for in a healthy relationship. Given the past year, we could all use some people in our lives who will always be there for us. It’s important to sometimes take a step back and think about whether you are benefiting from your friendships/relationships. Your partner or friends should always motivate you to be the best version of yourself. There should be a balance between give and take, with both people supporting each other. You should always be able to show your authentic self and never put on a face. Friends or partners should always respect your space. Sometimes you just need alone time, and there is nothing wrong with that. At the end of the day, friends/partners should be people who will talk or listen to you, no matter how big or small the subject.

"Don’t settle for a relationship that won’t let you be yourself." Oprah Winfrey

What You Can Do Now

  • Take this friendship quiz to identify the health of your friendship, and check out other resources to improve the quality of your friendships.
  • Watch this video to learn about the 3 Requirements of All Healthy Friendships.
    • Reflect: Do your closest friends meet all 3 Requirements of All Healthy Friendships? Do they meet some of the criteria but not all? What could you do to improve the health of this friendship? Is this friendship adding to your life, or is it taking away more than the good it adds?
  • Reflect:
    • Can you identify healthy friendships/relationships in your life? What qualities do they have?
    • What are some positive qualities that you bring to a relationship? Are you honest? Caring? Respectful? Supportive?
    • In what ways would you like for your relationships to improve? What can you do to pursue that goal?
  • Check out @matthiasjbarker on TikTok! He posts content about improving your self worth and recognizing red flags/green flags in friendships and relationships.