One of the most underrated green flags is consistency.
You can have a bad day. You can disagree. You can be irritated with each other. And yet, underneath the conflict, there is still basic care.
Your partner does not suddenly become cruel because they are angry. They do not use silence as punishment or affection as a bargaining tool.
They can be upset with you and still ask whether you have eaten.
They can need space and still make it clear that the relationship is not being threatened.
That kind of emotional steadiness may seem ordinary when you have it. But it can feel incredibly different if you have previously experienced relationships where every disagreement made you fear losing the person.
Maybe the real problem is that we have started calling every decent relationship behaviour “the bare minimum”. Of course, respect, honesty and basic consideration should be expected. But noticing the difference between someone who technically does the right thing and someone who consistently makes you feel considered is important too.
A healthy relationship does not always feel exciting. Sometimes, its biggest green flag is that you are not constantly wondering where you stand.
