11 Big Green Flags in a Relationship You Actually Want to Get Excited Over
Society talks a lot about relationship warning signs and major red flags, but what about the green flags in a relationship that showcase positive behaviour? While recognizing (and avoiding) a toxic relationship with someone who does not treat you well is something you should be well aware of, it’s also essential to understand and appreciate the marks of a healthy relationship that your significant other presents in the day-to-day.
While this list is certainly not exhaustive, here are 11 of our favourite relationship green flags, showing that your partnership is likely a great one.
Your boundaries are always respected
With one of the significant red flags in a relationship being a refusal to acknowledge the setting of boundaries, the encouragement and respect of them is an essential start to a healthy relationship. This includes promoting your partner’s commitment to self-love and self-care!
Open communication is important to them
In general, open communication between a couple is critical to keep the relationship strong and thriving. That said, asking monthly relationship check-in questions is an excellent way to maintain relationship self-care together; they create a safe space to address all concerns you may have.
You don’t feel like you have to prove yourself
One of the relationship rules to live by is that you should never have to prove yourself to your significant other. They should always make you feel worthy, not as if you must work relentlessly for their love and attention.
Mutual authenticity is always expected
In a solid relationship, neither partner feels the need to be a ‘fake’ version of themselves nor hide things from their significant other. As a side note, genuine authenticity is a great way to deepen feelings with one another.
They value (and exhibit) empathy and vulnerability
Are you looking for more green flags in a relationship? Not only does empathy and vulnerability help you to be a better romantic partner, when your significant other opens up in this way to you, it’s a good indication of a good connection to each other.
Supporting your personal growth is essential
Supporting your partner’s personal growth is non-negotiable when it comes to long-term relationships. Two people must help build one another up to be the best versions of themselves, without fear of it changing the relationship.
They trust you and accept your word
If either partner does not trust the other, you need to stop and assess why this is so. In a healthy relationship, significant others should value each other’s honesty and loyalty without having to second-guess the intention behind their words or whether they are lying.
Resolving conflict respectfully is critical to them
Everyone has disagreements at some point in time — failure to disagree can be a sign of inauthenticity. A green flag is when each partner holds themselves accountable for their actions and works diligently towards resolving conflict respectfully.
Your feelings are taken into consideration
Whether it’s being conscious of your love language and expressing love to you in this way, performing regular acts of service, being aware of your emotions through obvious (and not-so-obvious) signs, making big decisions together, or other similar actions, a partner who considers their significant other’s feelings at all times is one of the relationship green flags.
Self-reflection doesn’t scare them
The ability to be aware of yourself — including your emotions, how you react to situations, and what makes you tick — is important to the success of a relationship. When both partners are conscious of these things through self-reflection, it brings strength and a sense of responsibility to the table.
Other relationships in their life are significant
A significant green flag is when a person values other relationships outside of their romantic one. Pushing away friends and family (and encouraging you to do the same) is often an indication of greater issues at hand.
While the 11 points above are a good sign that your significant other strives to avoid a toxic relationship and many relationship deal-breakers, remember that these don’t encompass every positive behaviour they may exhibit. This is just the tip of the iceberg! Green flags in a relationship come in various forms and should be appreciated and reciprocated; after all, it takes both partners working together to create and maintain a healthy, thriving relationship together.
So, yes, recognize signs of emotional immaturity and the controlling relationship red flags when a person is exhibiting them, but when you are in a flourishing relationship and demonstrating tonnes of positive behaviour, embrace those green flags, too!
What do you think are significant relation green flags and red flags? Which green flag is most important to you in your partnership? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.