Being in love with a person is not enough if there is no respect in the relationship. If you receive both love and respect from your partner, you have the perfect recipe for a long-lasting relationship. A partner that respects you will make you the happiest person on the planet and will give you the freedom to be yourself. However, if you are in doubt and you are not sure whether your partner respects you, read the following seven signs.
7 Signs that your partner respects you
1.They aren’t overbearing
If your partner is not a control freak that tries to get involved in anything you do, it is a good sign that they trust you and respect you. It means they are confident you will not step the boundaries you have set together as a couple and that they respect your freedom and independence. If they go out with your friends from time to time it is perfectly fine. But if they start controlling your actions and who you should hang out with, it is a major red flag.
2.They are aware that no means no
A partner who respects you will never do things you don’t like and will even try hard to avoid them as much as they can. For example, if you don’t like being tickled your partner will not tickle you. Or, if there is a certain thing you are not comfortable with when being intimate, they will never force you to do something. If your partner makes sure that you are 100% comfortable with what they are doing and if they never put pressure on you, it means they respect you as a person and all the choices you make for your body.
3.They are honest
A good partner does not hide anything including bad news just because they might make you sad. They will be open and they will tell you because they respect your decision making abilities. This shows that your partner knows they can be confident in your relationship even when sharing unpleasant information. They will never lie to you. Dr. Barton Goldsmith, a psychotherapist said: “What honesty gives you is a great deal of comfort. Knowing you can implicitly trust your mate allows you to be your best self, and your relationship will continue to thrive because you are able to give each other the positive energy you need to navigate life’s ups and downs.”
4.They listen when you speak
While having a conversation with the person you love it is extremely important that they make sure you know they are paying attention. If they don’t acknowledge what you are saying it means they don’t respect you enough. And if your partner is committed to your relationship they will reply accordingly and will never act like they can’t wait for you to stop talking.
5.Your achievements make them proud
A respectful partner knows all your goals and will help you achieve them even by supporting you mentally. And after you achieve your goals they will be just as happy as you are and they might even share your achievements with their friends. This is a clear sign that your partner cares about your goals and development as a person.
6.You can always rely on them
If you partner does not appreciate your time and makes you wait for them for hours, or if they don’t respond to your texts at all, they are not that devoted to your relationship. A respectful partner will value your time and your plans and will never ignore your calls because talking to you is not something they don’t like doing.
7.They fight fair
Fights are an inevitable part of every relationship no matter how successful it is. This is perfectly normal because you can’t expect to get along with your partner all the time. According to Jennifer Kromberg, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist: “Some degree of fighting in a relationship is not only inevitable, but also necessary to create growth. The problem for couples is not that they fight—it’s how they fight.”
This means that even when you fight you must never stop respecting your partner. Having fights does not mean you should hurt each other with bad words, instead use them as a way to resolve your issues and make your relationship even stronger.
One of the best feelings in the world is knowing that your partner loves and respects you at the same time. Respect is often much harder to earn compared to love and it is sometimes even more important. A relationship without respect will get consumed by the egos and it is doomed from the beginning.
Peter Gray, Ph.D, a research professor and author said: “To respect is to understand that the other person is not you, not an extension of you, not a reflection of you, not your toy, not your pet, not your product. In a relationship of respect, your task is to understand the other person as a unique individual and learn how to mesh your needs with his or hers and help that person achieve what he or she wants to achieve.”
If you have even the slightest doubt that your partner might not respect you the way you deserve it, you might be better off without them. However, just like love, respect is also reciprocal. You should not expect something you are not providing. Try to improve your relationship by working on yourself first and this way you could even make your partner a better person.