Relationships are necessary in life not just for emotional and physical health, but also for individual growth, or “thriving,” throughout life. Apart from helping people to cope with stress or adversity, relationships also help them in their efforts to achieve individual growth by learning, exploring, meeting goals, cultivating new talents, and finding purpose and meaning in life. In Part 1 of this series, I’ll be taking a look at how a positive relationship can help individuals grow and flourish.

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Positive perceptions: When you are in a relationship, your partner sees you more positively than you see yourself. For instance, your partner may view you to be smarter and more attractive than you think you are. This soon rubs off on you as you integrate your partner’s positive perceptions about yourself in the way you perceive yourself and develop an expanded view about your talents and attributes, giving you greater self-confidence.

Self acceptance: Being in an intimate relationship means sharing everything with your partner. That includes things that you are anxious or ashamed about and think makes you unlovable. A good relationship can prove you wrong when you find that your partner still loves you in spite of everything and helps you with self acceptance.

Being yourself: In a truly intimate relationship, your partner sees you for who you really are and encourages you to be yourself. Maybe you always thought you had a good voice and could sing, but never had the confidence to actually try your hand at it. When your partner supports and encourages you to actively pursue your talents, it can help you develop them, gain appreciation and discover your true self.

Greater exposure: Relationships are all about sharing and your partner is bound to introduce you to new things in life. For instance, your partner may show you how much fun camping outdoors is if you have always been a stay-at-home person, or you could discover that playing video games or watching football with your partner is not really as boring as you used to believe. Relationships give you the opportunity to try out new things and experience new pleasures that expand your sense of self.

Good habits: Relationships introduces people to each other’s health, finance, lifestyle, and psychological habits. You can learn a lot from your partner’s habits and benefit by inculcating them in your own life. For instance, if you have been a couch potato all your life, then your partner’s health habit of hitting the gym can motivate you to start exercising. Or if you have been always carefree with your money, your partner’s prudent nature and habit of planning for the future can make you wiser in finance-related matters.

Change in negative behavior: When you in a relationship, your partner is unlikely to tolerate your negative behavior, such as being overly dramatic or racist. But the need to further improve the relationship and make yourself wanted can make you fall in-step with your partner and stop such negative behavior, making you a more positive and better person.

Personal goals: Maybe you have always wanted to start a small business or take up a different profession, but never had the emotional and financial support to do so. Your partner can provide you that much-needed support by showing confidence in your skills and managing the household finances, or even investing in your new business, until you have successfully made the transition.

In Part 2 of this series, I’ll be discussing why some people feel they cannot grow in certain types of intimate relationships and what they should do about it.

If you'd like professional help in balancing individuality and relationship, and learn how you can thrive alongside your partner, contact Orly Gueron a Licensed marriage and family therapist and relationship specialist in Aventura, FL!