6 Basic Fundamentals Of Support In A Relationship

Think of your relationship as a plant. Just like a plant needs air, water, sunlight, and space to grow, you and your partner need a few essential qualities to thrive as a couple. The most important of these is support because it has a domino effect on the other spheres of your life. Support in a relationship is best understood (and cultivated) when you get the fundamentals right.

To fully comprehend the meaning of support and how it leads to relationship satisfaction, you first need to know what it feels like in its healthiest, most wholesome form. A supportive relationship feels like having a cozy blanket wrapped around you on a chilly night. It lends a sense of safety and protection. Strangely, a need as basic as support is not met in many relationships or marriages. People remain locked in unions that don’t nourish them emotionally.

# Respect begets support in a relationship

Respect is perhaps the most misunderstood concept in our society. It enters the frame when your partner makes choices you don’t necessarily agree with. This is when you support them regardless of your opinion because you respect the differences too. There is an acknowledgment of the partner’s needs and desires, trust in their decisions, and hope that the best will happen. It is imperative to move beyond conditional respect in a partnership.

Criticizing their choices because they don’t seem like something you would make, is an indicator of a lack of emotional support. It is also a sign of disrespect when you invalidate something that your partner holds in high regard. To support is to respect – the person and the differences.

# Empathy – a vital element of emotional support

Empathy makes all the difference in the world. It is the ability to understand what your partner is experiencing. People are less quick to judge or critique when they have empathy for their better half. This is a very crucial component of support because you can’t be wholeheartedly supportive unless you put yourself in your partner’s shoes. It is when you share their experience that you realize the full depth of their predicament.

You need lots of empathy for your partner. It is an important characteristic of a healthy relationship. Without it, you’re supporting someone superficially. Know their perspective, see things through their eyes, and then do the needful. Ask yourself – where are they coming from?

# Growth and support go hand-in-hand

Growth can be of any kind including:

Financial
Personal
Intellectual
Mental
Spiritual
Emotional

Like we’ve said before, individuals in supportive relationships are healthier and happier because they provide space for each other to grow in every aspect of their being. This is a key difference between selfish and selfless love. The moment you help each other grow, you will realize how far you have come and how much you have grown with their support.

# Trust is synonymous with support

So much has been said about trust and its value. But why is it synonymous with emotional support? Because when partners experience support in the absence of judgment, they place faith in each other. They become their most authentic selves while realizing their full potential. This level of comfort promotes honesty in the relationship too.

# Making your partner feel safe is one of the relationship fundamentals

Masculine and feminine energy is different. If the former likes to show support through acts of service, then the latter will show support through words of affirmation. Both are essential in keeping the relationship strong. It provides a sense of security which is like a bear hug for your emotional health. Mutual support between partners tethers the partners to each other. There’s no scope for trust issues, unhealthy jealousy, or manipulation. It’s truly liberating to date someone after letting go of emotional baggage. You can channel your energy quite productively when you aren’t thinking of who your partner is texting.

# Support yields motivation

I know this seems pretty obvious to say but support is enormously empowering. Knowing that someone has your back at all times is a constant source of motivation. This is why individuals who struggle with mental health also benefit from a solid support system. A person could hit rock bottom but support in a relationship will get them back on their feet. They always know that there is a way to bounce back – that they can do it.