13 Signs You're Totally A Power Couple — Samantha Burns

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 says, “In a power couple, if one person is flawed, the other person makes up for their weaknesses in strength. Together they are the epitome of what anyone would desire in a relationship. They encourage goodness in the world and make it a better place by being together.”

Urban Dictionary definition of a Power Couple

For me, the Aristotle 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.

It’s when two confident, self-assured people who realize their worth join together to dominate life. A power couple recognizes each other’s strengths, 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 he believes in self-actualization and strives to reach his full potential. He said 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 through practicing healthy behaviors and being an exceptional partner every day. 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, and 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 in which you trust 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 in 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 view 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 has shows these happy couples live longer and have a healthier lifestyle, 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, increases 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 sweat pants 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 opinion, 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 put each other down. You’re not just presenting as a united front, you are a united front.

13. You can talk about anything

There’s no off limit topics, even bathroom behavior, seriously. Being so comfortable and close, where you feel safe to talk about the silly, embarrassing, vulnerable and scary things without judgment brings two people together and creates an unbreakable bond.

So if you identify with the thirteen items above, congratulations my friend, you are part of a power couple! However, you don’t need to be told by me or some article. You already know that you’re a part of a kick ass relationship, and it’s obvious to those around you.