They handle conflict maturely. Name calling, ridiculing, and physical abuse is not something you deal with. When you are in disagreement, they do not put you down or behave aggressively. They talk respectfully, calmly, and openly.
They celebrate your successes. They see your accomplishments as a great thing. They do not dismiss them or seek to make you feel bad when you are doing well. They also do not behave as if they are in competition with you. When you are happy, they are happy!
You trust them and they trust you. You rarely feel anxious when you cannot get in touch with them or when they are out with friends. You have no reason to doubt them or be worried about their behavior when you are not around. They also show you that they trust you too.
Talking to them is easy. They allow you to be vulnerable and they do not throw your vulnerabilities in your face or expose your deepest secrets. They listen when you speak – not just to hear, but also to understand. They also encourage you to talk about yourself.
You spend time apart and have lives outside of your relationship. Your life consists of a healthy balance of ‘us’ and ‘me’ time. They want you to have a social life outside of them, and do not seek to control you. You feel like you are given room to grow and spend time with others.
They are considerate and willing to compromise. Your relationship does not revolve around them alone. They understand the meaning of a partnership and that your needs matter too. When compromise may be required, they evaluate all options and not just the ones to suit them.
You feel loved. They regularly express their love and affection using their own love language. They also try their best to love you how you like to be loved. As a result, you feel appreciated and treated like a priority, not taken for granted and treated like an option.
Love 101 