Healthy Relationship Boundaries

Healthy relationship boundaries are necessary in every relationship, especially in a romantic relationship. Boundaries foster healthy relationships and enable the people involved to learn respect. Realizing healthy boundaries in romantic partnerships can take time  to learn, it's best to allow practice and patience. Healthy relationships boundaries promote closeness and trust  and are worth the time and commitment to develop.

1. Personal space: Respect the need to have alone time to have healthy relationship boundaries. Having together time can be wonderful, but honoring the need for personal solitude is important. This can be a spiritual time to journal,or even listen to music reflect. This can also be a time to be with your own friends and nurture your individuality as well as the identify as a couple. Time apart to reconnect with one’s self can lead to greater connection as a couple.
2. Communication: Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don't say it mean. This is an important healthy relationship boundary. Straightforward communication is a significant part of healthy relationship boundaries. Being direct with your partner and still maintaining sensitivity is a healthy relationship boundary. Active listening and carefully reflecting back on what is heard is an equally important tool in healthy relationship boundaries.     
3. Sexuality:  In a consensual sexual relationship, two people must be sensitive to each other's needs. This does not mean sacrificing or relinquishing  what is comfortable to please a partner. The right to say yes or no to sex without guilt is part of healthy relationship boundaries.
4. Reciprocity: If only one partner is giving and the other partner is only taking, this represents an imbalance.  In healthy relationship boundaries, both partners give and receive as part of the joy in sharing. A healthy relationship boundary offers opportunities to give and take as an act of unconditional love without it being a quid pro quo. 
5. Conflict Resolutions: Apologize when you are wrong and be willing to forgive when you are not. Being vulnerable to admit an error will open the way to intimacy, trust and greater love. Alternately, being able to acknowledge when your partner is vulnerable in error can help solidity a bond in establishing healthy relationship boundaries.