Humans are social beings, meant to form connections and go through life with the company of others. From the moment we’re born, we begin forming connections with our caregivers. We rely on them to survive. As we grow, these early connections become that much more important as they shape how we interact with others and form new connections. They are the foundational basis for our mental health and emotional well-being.

You may think of yourself as the “go-to” person or the one who is always showing up for their people, saying yes, and keeping the peace. On the outside, this can seem like a positive quality. In many ways, it can be a personal strength. But when your desire to help everyone or your avoidance of conflict starts to override your own needs, it can become a harmful behavioral pattern. These actions are known as people-pleasing.

Have you ever found yourself feeling an unusually strong response to an interaction with your partner? Do you wonder why you’re drawn to certain types of people? In previous relationships, have you ever found yourself repeating the same frustrating patterns? The experiences we have as children provide a blueprint for how we will respond to conflict and intimacy as adults.

Modern relationships that can withstand the many challenges of life, whether personal or professional, are based on more than just good intentions. They require a healthy balance of understanding, empathy, and thoughtfulness.

Setting healthy boundaries should not be considered optional, but rather a necessity. Boundaries apply in our personal lives, as well as within our respective professional settings. Establishing these guidelines helps keep our mental health in check, promotes well-being, fosters meaningful connections, and builds respect.

Miscommunication is one of the main causes of relationships not working out. But yours doesn’t have to fall into this statistic. You just have to put a bit more time and energy into making it work. This is how to stop miscommunication from hurting your relationship.

Conflict is inevitable in human interaction, but it doesn’t have to be a negative experience. By developing healthy conflict resolution skills, you can transform potentially painful disagreements into opportunities for growth and stronger relationships. When faced with conflict, it’s crucial to first check in with yourself. Take deep breaths to soothe your nervous system and identify your emotions.

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world. It doesn’t discriminate between men and women.

Depression also doesn’t have a singular cause. Some people are at a greater risk than others. Men, particularly, tend to face unique challenges when it comes to what causes depression — and what they do about it. 

Let’s dig a little deeper into what causes depression in men and why it might be more of a struggle for them.

Your partner should be the person you turn to when you want to discuss just about anything. Maybe you do feel like you share everything with them already, but have you ever thought about how often you actually talk about your relationship?

Discussing your relationship with your romantic partner isn’t just important—it’s necessary. Talking about your needs, wants, unresolved issues or things that make you happy will help strengthen your bond and improve intimacy.

The relationship you have with yourself is just as important as the one you have with your partner. If you’ve been in a romantic relationship for a while, it’s understandable and normal for things to shift over time. You might be out of the honeymoon phase, and maybe you’ve fallen into a comfortable routine or pattern with your partner.

Whether you’ve been in a serious relationship for a month, a year, or twenty years, you should never stop striving to be a better partner. Far too many couples become victims of “roommate syndrome,” where it starts to feel more like you’re living together as friends than romantic partners. Thankfully, you can do your part by actively taking steps to be the best partner possible. By putting in continued effort throughout your relationship, you’ll boost your bond, build intimacy, and help the roots of your partnership stay strong.

The words “healthy conflict” might not immediately seem to go together, especially when it comes to relationships. No one likes arguing or disagreeing with people they care about. It can lead to frustration, hurt, and even rifts in those relationships—romantic or otherwise.

You might not have a checklist for the people you date. That’s something that’s often better left for romantic comedies. But, while you might not want to go looking for someone who “checks all of the boxes,” it is important to make sure you know what you really want while dating. That might seem obvious, right? Well, not necessarily. 

Many people describe the butterflies and nerves they get when they’re in a new relationship. Some people still have those same “happy” nerves even after years of being with someone. But there’s a difference between butterflies and anxiety.

No matter the type of relationship, it should have boundaries for both people. Whether it is with a romantic partner, friend, family member, or coworker, setting boundaries is really important.