Embracing authenticity can be the bridge to building meaningful relationships

Many people spend much of their lives searching for what is arguably one of the most subjective of human experiences – true love. From popular movies, TV shows and dating apps to a cultural focus on finding “the one”, the phenomenon of love is inescapable. Our preoccupation with social connectedness is biologically connected to our desire for human connection.

But how do we establish connections across all our relationships that positively contribute to our well-being? Identifying the characteristics of a healthy relationship and being mindful of red flags is a reasonable place to start.

Love is often one of those things that you just know when you feel it. While it is difficult to define love as an explicit experience or construct, there are certain guides we can use to understand what makes a loving relationship.

What makes a healthy relationship?

If you believe that friends are the family we choose, then you have been fortunate to experience a meaningful friendship that positively contributes to a reality where you feel appreciated, valued and have a sense of belonging.

This experience of connection can be defined as compassionate love – originally coined as a component of the Two-Factor Theory of Love, which suggests love is comprised of two main categories....

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