I've always been a big believer in fighting for a relationship. Good things come out of working hard for them. Relationships also aren't supposed to be easy or perfect by any means.
There are going to be uphill battles the two of you are more than capable of winning, but that doesn't mean a relationship can't turn sour altogether. The hardest part is knowing when it's not worth fighting for anymore.
Every relationship is unique to the people involved in it. Some obstacles one couple can overcome will be a deal breaker for another couple. There is no exact science to it; no right answer to making things work.
With that being said, how on Earth are you supposed to know if your current relationship is toxic or not?
A general rule of thumb is if you have to even ask that question, something might be wrong with it.
That doesn't necessarily mean things are completely over with your boo, but if you find yourself asking that question, there are things the two of you might need to address.
Having a respectful conversation about it like two adults can help to clear things up. However, if you're left feeling shut down after the conversation, or like your partner isn't being entirely honest with you, there might be a bigger complication.
While there is no set method to making a relationship work, there are still steps you can take to keep it healthy. These steps include honesty with each other, good communication, partnership instead of ownership, and forgiveness. It's important to note that so much more goes into a relationship, but losing at least one of these four things is usually a flashing red sign that things could be turning toxic.
I'm still a big believer in fighting for a relationship, and that some can overcome more than you'd believe. But when working hard for your relationship is continuously doing you more harm than good, it might be time to let go.