Relationships are an important part of a healthy life. In addition to providing emotional support, they can also help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and improve your mood and outlook on life.

People use the term “relationship” to describe many different kinds of connections, from family relationships and friendships to romantic and platonic ones. Some of these types of relationships overlap, for example, some couples are both friends and lovers.

A relationship can also refer to the way you communicate with someone, including how much intimacy you have. Intimacy often relates to sex, but it can also include other forms of physical connection like cuddling and kissing. Some people choose to not have sex in their relationship, and that’s okay too. A relationship can be healthy even without that element of intimacy, as long as the partners are on the same page about getting their needs met.

The most important aspect of a healthy relationship is trust. When you trust someone, it means that you believe they’ll be there for you and won’t lie or hurt you physically or emotionally. You also know that they’ll respect your independence, allowing you to spend time with other people in your life without feeling jealous.

A strong relationship requires both parties to play multiple roles at different times. Some of these roles might involve listening and supporting, while others might require a more active role, such as offering unbiased advice or constructive criticism. In a healthy relationship, both partners are willing to take on these roles and can respectfully disagree without humiliation or degradation.