13 Signs You're A Power Couple
Do you have what it takes to be a power couple?
IVASHstudio / Shutterstock Sure, you might not be as rich and famous as Bey and Jay, but you may share some of the same traits that it takes to be a power couple!
Being a power couple isn’t just about good looks, wealth, and career success. It’s about having a teammate mindset — a "we" instead of a "me" mentality, which enables you to create a strong foundation.
Urban Dictionary defines a power couple as: "A relationship between two people who are equally as cool as each other. They are as individually awesome and fun to be around as they are when they are together.
Neither one depends on the other for their feelings of self-worth — they know in their heart that they are just as valuable to the world as the other... Together they are the epitome of what anyone would desire in a relationship."
For me, Aristotle's quote, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts," rings true. We all have our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, but in a power couple relationship, you feel like you can tackle anything life throws at you.
What makes a 'power' couple so powerful?
A power couple recognizes each other’s strengths and weaknesses, respects each other’s independence, and balances this with a healthy reliance and interdependence on the other.
On my first date with my husband, he told me that he believes in self-actualization and strives to reach his full potential. He said that every day, he likes to do something that challenges him and enables him to be a better person.
As a psychotherapist, I had a geek-out moment as this handsome hunk sat across from me and talked insightfully about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the ways in which he wants to grow, excel, and achieve.
It was clear he would make a good teammate, and I knew that by aligning our drive, motivation, and thirst for life, we could thrive together.
Being called a power couple isn’t a static label. You earn this title by practicing healthy behaviors and being an exceptional partner daily. Power couples are not lazy in love.
Here are 13 signs you're a power couple:
1. You feel like your best self in the relationship
In past relationships, you may have felt insecure, needy, crazy, jealous, or sad, but this relationship brings out the best in you. You feel confident, safe, and secure.
2. You slay your goals
Brain science shows that couples in strong relationships are more creative and productive. They like to explore and play more.
When you feel supported and encouraged by your partner, it enables you to go out and crush your life goals, take on new projects, and try new hobbies.
3. You focus on the things you love about your partner
Have you ever wondered why some couples still seem madly in love after years of being together?
Researchers put long-term, happily married couples into a brain scanner and learned that these couples showed activity in three brain regions — empathy, controlling your own emotions, and positive illusions, which is the ability to overlook what you don’t like about your partner and hyper-focus on what you love.
Power couples don’t waste too much time fixating on what’s bothering them because they can see the big picture of what’s important.
When you do need to talk about what’s wrong, you find it easy to sit down for an intentional conversation, where you trust that your partner will actively listen, try to understand your perspective and validate your emotional experiences.
4. You prioritize each other every day
Power couples are usually busy couples since they are successful in many areas of life. However, they’ve mastered prioritizing each other, no matter how busy their schedule gets.
That’s because they realize the value of being present and giving each other undivided attention, even if it’s just for twenty minutes on the most hectic days. This allows you to stay connected and continue to build emotional intimacy on a daily basis. You don't take each other for granted
5. You genuinely feel grateful to have your partner
Power couples build their relationship on a foundation of gratitude since grateful couples are happy couples.
Research shows couples who practice gratitude and express appreciation feel more connected, loving, and satisfied in their relationships. They also feel more comfortable voicing concerns and viewing their partners as more validating, caring, and responsive.
6. You support each other in your individual pursuits
As individuals, you’re both rock stars, but sometimes this means that only one person can shine at a time. In some relationships, this could lead to significant conflict and resentment, but you’ve figured out how to compromise and take turns in supporting each other.
You’re OK giving your partner the spotlight and putting your own goals or career on the back burner at times, and of course, your actions are recognized and appreciated by your partner.
Ultimately, you make decisions together, taking into account both partners’ thoughts and feelings.
7. You are healthy
Both partners in a power couple take responsibility to meet their own physiological needs. You’re able to be a much better significant other when you’re not tired, irritable, and "hangry" all of the time!
Since power couples are in stable relationships, science shows that these happy couples live longer and have healthier lifestyles, with lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and stress. They also enjoy a more satisfying sex life.
8. Your relationship is drama-free
All couples face challenges, but the majority of the time, it’s smooth sailing in your relationship.
You know how to effectively repair damage after a disagreement and how to increase both emotional and physical intimacy when feeling disconnected.
9. You exercise together
You know that exercise helps you manage your weight, sleep better, increase your body confidence and energy levels, and decrease anxiety and depression. But research has also found that couples who sweat together, stay together!
Couples who engage in physical challenges together feel more loving and satisfied in their relationships.
When you exercise together, you prioritize time with your partner. You’re also more likely to encourage and praise each other and work towards goals together, which creates a supportive environment.
Plus, exercise releases dopamine, which busts stress and makes you feel happy, and it feels great to be around a happy, positive partner.
10. You speak each other's love language
Power couples know exactly how to make each other feel loved and adored. You communicate in an effective way by speaking each other’s love languages, which allows each partner to connect deeply by receiving love in a way that’s most meaningful.
Whether it’s through physical touch, acts of service, gifts, words of affirmation, or quality time, you’re on it.
11. You're best friends
The relationship of a power couple goes so much deeper than a physical spark. You can feel just as connected and satisfied laughing on the couch together in sweatpants as you do getting hot and heavy in the bedroom.
Being best friends means you turn to each other first whenever there is big news to share, you deeply value and respect each other’s opinions, and you set healthy boundaries around your relationship so no one else can penetrate your BFF status.
Basically, you're two peas in a pod.
12. You've got each other's backs
In being part of a power couple, you know your partner so well that you can easily step in for assistance in any uncomfortable social situation without having to be asked.
You know just what to say when your partner is down. Your advice seems to make everything better.
You build each other up instead of putting each other down. You’re not just presenting a united front, you are a united front.
13. You can talk about anything
There are no off-limit topics, even bathroom behavior — seriously.
Being so comfortable and close, where you feel safe to talk about silly, embarrassing, vulnerable, and scary things without judgment, brings two people together and creates an unbreakable bond.
So if you identify with the 13 items above, congratulations my friend, you are part of a power couple!
However, you don’t need me or some article to tell you that. You already know that you’re part of a kick-ass relationship, and it’s obvious to those around you!
Samantha Burns is a licensed counselor, dating coach, and the love guru behind the free worksheet Reframing My Negative Thoughts About Love.