--- title: 3 Crucial Ingredients to Healthy Relationships description: Research shows that when our relationships have all three elements of belonging, closeness, and reasonable expectations they become stable and life-giving. But when one of these key ingredients is missing, the imbalance can lead to problems. image: https://www.gccnh.com/hubfs/blog%20images/healthy%20relationships.jpg --- [ Blog ](https://www.gccnh.com/blog) - Browse Topics More - [Spiritual Growth](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/spiritual-growth) - [Christian Living](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/christian-living) - [Life Lessons](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/life-lessons) - [Bible Reading](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/bible-reading) - [Community](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/community) - [prayer](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/prayer) - [Questioning Faith](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/questioning-faith) - [Christmas](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/christmas) - [Marriage](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/marriage) - [Relationships](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/relationships) - [Worship](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/worship) - [Groups](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/groups) - [Healing](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/healing) - [Children](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/children) - [Family](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/family) - [Finances](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/finances) - [Giving](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/giving) - [Intimacy](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/intimacy) - [Membership](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/membership) - [Money](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/money) - [Budgeting](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/budgeting) - [Chidren](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/chidren) - [Conflict](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/conflict) - [Debt](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/debt) - [Halloween](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/halloween) - [Loneliness](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/loneliness) - [Politics](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/politics) - [Communication](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/communication) - [Events](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/events) - [Holy Spirit](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/holy-spirit) - [Music](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/music) - [Volunteering](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/tag/volunteering) Search search Subscribe - - - - #### **"In 2006, researchers at Duke found that the number of people Americans had important conversations with dropped from three in 1985 to two in 2006." ** That was concerning, but it was nothing compared to the alarms triggered by another finding from the same study: "a quarter of Americans said they had no one to talk to about ‘important matters.'" This is just one of the fascinating insights you’ll find in [***The Loneliness Epidemic ***](https://www.barna.com/loneliness-epidemic/)*— *a new book by Susan Mettes that features original Barna data. Today, in the reality of the COVID pandemic, loneliness can be even harder to avoid and respond to, which is why we strongly encourage you to add this book to your reading list. [***The Loneliness Epidemic***](https://barnagroup.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=9efdfc66e685daa3b57e0a5d448df8d5&i=1111A2662A14A24746) not only paints a clear picture of both the causes and effects of loneliness, but it also offers a solution: **nurturing relationships that feature belonging, closeness and reasonable expectations. ** Mettes explains that when our relationships have all three elements, they become stable and life-giving. But when one of these key ingredients is missing, the imbalance can lead to problems.  If you’re experiencing loneliness, or you want to be intentional about nurturing healthy relationships we have a group for you.  [Find a group that best meets your needs for the season you are in and make a decision to connect](https://www.gccnh.com/groups).   [![JOIN A GROUP](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8482942/3cfa2ca2-6f23-41af-8f78-4cb5a9ed8eeb.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/8482942/3cfa2ca2-6f23-41af-8f78-4cb5a9ed8eeb) ![Barna Group](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/756cff09e63393e837ff6d8eec5b5cab) [Barna Group](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/author/barna-group) This is a short author bio. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Duis aute irure dolor in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. [READ BIO >](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/author/barna-group) - - - ## Related Posts [![](https://www.gccnh.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Our%20Father.jpg?width=310&height=230&name=Our%20Father.jpg) Worship 13 min What is the 'Our Father' Prayer? - a clear & powerful way to pray ](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/what-is-the-our-father-prayer) [![](https://www.gccnh.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Live%20on%20Mission.jpg?width=310&height=230&name=Live%20on%20Mission.jpg) Life Lessons 4 min How God Uses Discomfort to Transform Us: 5 Principles to Understand ](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/god-can-use-discomfort-to-transform-us) [![](https://www.gccnh.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Rwanda%20Kids.jpg?width=310&height=230&name=Rwanda%20Kids.jpg) How to Live on God’s Mission: Inspiration from One Woman’s Radical Love ](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/how-to-live-on-gods-mission-inspiration-from-1-womans-radical-love) [![](https://www.gccnh.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Finding%20the%20Right%20Church.jpg?width=310&height=230&name=Finding%20the%20Right%20Church.jpg) Community 8 min 11 Tips on Finding the Best Church for You ](https://www.gccnh.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-church) ## Comments close ## Subscribe via email Subscribe to our blog to get insights sent directly to your inbox. ### Subscribe Here!