Ground rules for healthy relationships
- I will face my emptiness – I don’t expect you to fill my gaps and be everything to me.
- I will trust (and tell you when I don’t).
- I will be there – you can count on me to be reliable.
- I will tell you if I am leaving the house/coming home…I will try not to be mentally absent from the relationship.
- I will attempt to communicate my thoughts and feelings as far as I am able to and will do my best to express myself with sensitivity.
- I will be vulnerable with you as often as I can. This fosters intimacy and trust.
- Sometimes we will agree to disagree and accept that this is okay for both of us.
Finally, I will do my best to take responsibility for my actions, to apologise when I am in the wrong and to work for the good of the relationship rather than to play unhealthy games when I don’t feel like communicating.
I will be receptive to giving and receiving.
The above are great guidelines for a happy, healthy and rewarding relationship.
Mandy X
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
