A partner with a secure attachment style makes love feel easy and rewardingeven during rocky ... [+] patches. Heres how to tell if you have one.gettyTrue love shouldnt feel like walking on eggshells. It shouldnt feel like a constant test of loyalty, a game of guessing whats really on your partners mind, nor a balancing act between feeling close and giving space. Instead, at its best, love should feel safe.This sense of safety (or lack thereof) is usually the product of ones attachment style. Those with a secure attachment style bring a pervasive sense of trust, emotional maturity and stability to their relationshipssomething that can feel quite refreshing if youve consistently been with people who struggle with high levels of insecurity.If youve ever wondered whether your partner comes from such a secure space, here are three key signs that they do.1. Theyre Okay With Missing YouFrom a psychological standpoint, secure attachment is built on trust. As classic research from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggests, securely attached individuals are far more trusting of their partners than others. They understand that relationships dont require permanent proximity to remain strong and view their partners social life as separate from their own, without feeling threatened by it.For instance, say youve been looking forward to a night out with your friends all week. You and your partner have spent plenty of time togetherbut tonight, you just want to kick back and enjoy yourself.An anxiously attached partner might bombard you with texts throughout the nightasking when youre coming home or worrying that youre having too much fun without them. They might say something like, I just dont get why you want to go without me, or Are you sure you wont forget about me while youre out?On the other hand, an avoidantly attached partner might pretend they dont care at all, but later, you notice theyre cold and withdrawn. Instead of admitting they missed you, they might act distantalmost as if theyre punishing you for enjoying yourself.However, all that a securely attached partner would say is, Have a great time! Send me a picture if you guys do something fun. I cant wait to hear all about it when you get home.Thats it. No guilt-tripping, no last-minute attempts to change your mind, no silent treatment later on. Simply put, a secure partner feels safe and trusting enough to go a few hours without you. They have no problem with missing you because they remember that no matter how much fun you have without them, theyll always be the one you return home to.This security extends beyond nights out with friends. It means they trust you when you travel for work, when you take on new personal projects and when you build new friendships outside of the relationship.They dont view your independence as a threat; instead, they know it as a sign of a healthy, balanced partnership. And when you return home, they welcome you with open armsnever suspicion.2. They Excel At Communicating EffectivelyPicture yourself on a particularly rough day. Something at work upset you, and youre quieter than usual. An anxiously attached partner might keep asking whats wrongeven when you say youre not ready to talk.If you stay quiet, they might assume theyve done something wrong and start spiraling, asking, Is it me? Did I say something? Are you mad at me? Before you know it, youre managing their emotions instead of your own.An avoidantly attached partner, on the other hand, might register that something is off, but they wont really do anything about it. They might avoid eye contact, leave the room or pretend not to notice your distress.They figure, If they want to talk, theyll say something, completely disregarding the importance of emotional attunement. If they make any attempt at all, itd likely be a half-hearted You okay?, which they drop as soon as you say Im fine or I dont want to talk about it.In contrast, a securely attached partner notices that this situation isnt necessarily about them and recognizes the need for tact. Instead, they say, Hey, I can tell that youre out of sorts today. I want to be there for you, but I cant if I dont know whats wrong. When youre ready, lets talk about it together?Their tone is warm and open, and theres no pressure. If you say yes, they listen attentively; if you say no, they respect your space but remind you theyre there if you change your mind.This respectful yet attentive nature is one of the most rewarding results of a secure attachment stylenamely, according to 2015 research from Frontiers in Psychology, emotional availability.In theory, this refers to the ability to be open and willing to work towards maintaining a healthy emotional connection. And in practice, this means that emotionally available partners dont shy away from emotional depth. Theyre unafraid of tough conversations and dont rely on mind games or passive-aggressive hints. Instead, they communicate with directness and care.This kind of emotional security is a holy grail in partnerships. It means fewer misunderstandings, fewer cold wars and fewer moments where you feel like youre talking to a brick wall. Instead, you feel truly seen and heardeven when youre not saying anything.Secure partners read between the lines when they need to, and listen actively when theres something they need to hear.3. They Dont Make Conflict DramaticPsychologists have long observed that secure individuals handle conflict in a way that strengthens relationships rather than weakening them. As research from The American Journal of Family Therapy demonstrates, securely attached partners are experts in verbal engagement, self-disclosure and open-ended discussions.In other words, they view disagreements or conflict as an opportunity to gain invaluable understanding of their partnernot as something that threatens the entire relationship.For example, say you have to bring up something thats bothering you. Perhaps your partner said somethinga joke or a fleeting statementthat inadvertently hit an exposed nerve, hurting your feelings. You sit them down and say, Hey, I just wanted to talk about something. When you said that thing earlier, it really hurt my feelings.An anxiously attached partner will likely over-apologize to the point that youll end up comforting them. Oh my God, Im the worst! I always mess up! Do you even love me anymore? By the end, you realize the whole conversation was about their fears of abandonmentand your feelings are still very much unaddressed.An avoidantly attached partner, conversely, would probably respond defensively, saying, Youre overreacting. It was just a joke. Why are you making such a big deal out of this? They shut down the conversation before it even begins, which only serves to make you feel as though your hurt is unjustified.In comparison, a securely attached partner would never roll their eyes, turn it into an argument or immediately try to make it about themselves. Instead, they listen until youve finished explaining your side.Only once youre done would they say something along the lines of, Wow, I didnt realize that came off that waybut after hearing your perspective, I totally understand why youd be upset. Im really sorry, and thank you for telling me.Once the serious part of the conversation is over, they might even use humor or affection as a form of an olive branch. Theres no bitterness or resentmentonly the desire to reconnect and move forward.They never resort to childish silent treatments, and they wont start explosive fights over minor issues. Moreover, neither of you feel like youre walking on eggshells to avoid triggering one another. Instead, problems are addressed, solutions are foundand, most importantly, both of you walk away feeling understood and stronger than where you started.Do you feel as securely attached to your partner as they do to you? Take this science-backed test to learn more: Relationship Satisfaction Scale