Cornerstones & Foundations of a Healthy Relationship

I diligently sought after God's design for a loving relationship, doing every bible study I could get my hands on, and sitting in Therapy working hard on developing myself. I also have read lots of Healthy Relationship books. I've complied a list of attributes I personally agree are the benchmarks of a true, mature and committed relationship.

Below are the Cornerstones and Foundation of a healthy relationship. You need a solid foundation to place these Cornerstones, which are key components. Without either, a relationship will be weak and can easily crumble.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful. It is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude. It does not dishonor others, it is not selfish or self-seeking, it is not provoked, it is not easily angered, it forgives; it keeps no record of wrongs. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

"A long-term relationship is best built on a solid Foundation, one able to offer strong support for the challenges the years to come will inevitably hold."

The Foundation
Definition - "an underlying basis or principle for something."
-Shared morals and values
-Compatible life goals and dreams, a shared Vision
-Common interests
-Financial Budget
-Spiritual compatibility


The 7 Cornerstones:
Definition -"an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based"

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:2 to Walk in Love.
"Say the “hard things” from love.
Become aware of the hard things that you’re not talking about. How does that feel? No matter what you’re feeling in a situation, channel the energy of your emotions so that you say what you need to say in a constructive manner."

Communication
-Effective and active listening
-Empathetic listening skills
-Problem Solving
-Conflict Resolution
-Fair fighting


Love
-Love is a Verb, it's an action
-Fluent in all 5 Love Languages
-Romance
-Appreciation
-Investment
-Honor
-Edification


Responsibility
-Accountable for behaviors and actions
-Acknowledges past use of violence
-Admits being wrong
-Reliable


Honesty
-loyalty
-Integrity
-Truthful, open, clear and direct communication
-Able to be vulnerable; honest about being scared or insecure
-Willing to admit and accept differences


Respect
-Maintains clear boundaries
-Nurtures the needs and wants of their partner, themselves, and the relationship
-Respects others’ rights to their own feelings, friends and activities
-Trusts and believes in their partner
-Values intimacy


Cooperation
-Works together to solve problems
-Negotiates and compromises
-Doesn’t always have to be “right”
-Willing to see the other side of issues


Support & Affirmation
-Values others’ opinions
-Listens non-judgmentally
-supports emotionally
-Encourages mutual growth


Partnership
-Offers commitment
-Makes decisions jointly
-Flexible in roles
-Interdependent instead of dependent