When you find someone who shares the same interests, life background, sense of humor, and taste in music as you, you feel like you’re on top of the world. The excitement of being in a new relationship begins to set in. And, you probably spend all your free time with your new flame and spread the news to all your friends and family. But how can you tell it will be a life long relationship?
“Relationship is an art. The dream that two people create is more difficult to master than one.” – Don Miguel Ruiz
After a few months, you may find that the once casual relationship has turned into a much more serious one, but the signs of a committed relationship aren’t always obvious. If you have wondered where your relationship stands, the following tips can help you discern between a short-term relationship and one that could last forever.
9 Signs You’re In A Life Long Relationship:
1. You Have Unbreakable Trust
In a committed relationship, trust usually ranks in the top 5 must-have characteristics of a partner for a reason: without trust, you can’t have a solid foundation to build on your relationship. You must be able to trust your partner and count on him or her to show honesty, no matter the circumstances. If you truly have trust in the relationship, you can depend on your partner for anything, and you never feel like he or she is hiding something from you.
2. You Share Common Values and Morals
While you both may enjoy the same type of ice cream and favor comedies over horror movies, a long-term relationship requires more than just shared interests and hobbies. After the first couple of dates, both of you may have started talking about your morals, religious or spiritual beliefs, your outlook on life, and your long-term goals. For a relationship to last, you both need to share the same general ethics and ideas about life, because these determine many aspects of how you live.
For example, if you are a vegan or vegetarian and your partner still eats meat, you may clash with him or her in the future about your stance on animal cruelty. If your partner wants kids down the road but you don’t, this would obviously cause friction in the relationship. Your hobbies and interests can change yearly, monthly, or even daily, but deep-rooted convictions generally never change. If you want to grow in the same direction with someone in the future, you will probably want to find a partner whose general values and morals in life match up with yours, or at least come close.
3. They Always Remind You of How Amazing You Are
In the first couple of months of the relationship, the novelty of it will make you feel like you had the air knocked out of you, and you and your partner probably can’t get enough of each other. But if your relationship is in it for the long haul, your guy or girl will always make you feel special, even after the newness of the relationship has worn off. He or she still honors your amazing qualities after months, or even years of being together, and can see your beauty even on days where you don’t see it yourself. If both of you can still recognize each others positive qualities even in the darkest of days, you have found a truly special connection.
4. You Say “I Love You” Often
Those three words symbolize a deep affinity for another person and represent who we all are at the core of our being. People in committed relationships have simply found someone that matches the frequency they emit into the world and can share that deep bond with one another.
If you feel truly comfortable saying those three words without feeling awkward or vulnerable, and your partner says them back, you have likely found someone who truly loves you on the deepest level.
5. You Feel Comfortable Around Your Partner’s Family
The day will come when your partner wants you to meet their family. Because, in a committed relationship, some people say you aren’t just dating your boyfriend or girlfriend. Indeed, you are in a relationship with his or her entire family. Getting to know them is just as important as getting to know your lover, because you will inevitably see them at family functions in the future, and you want to make sure you can feel comfortable around them.
A person’s family is one of the biggest parts of his or her life, and your partner’s mom might become your mother-in-law before you know it. If you feel at ease around the family, you will probably keep a close relationship with them, which will further enhance you and your partner’s relationship, too.
6. You Have Deep Conversations Often
The ability to have meaningful conversation aside from how your workday was, or what bills need to be paid, or who gets to do the dishes tonight is a telling sign of the intimacy of your relationship. If you can talk openly and honestly about anything under the sun, and beyond, you might have found a partner that will stick around for a while. When you talk about your philosophies about life, or your deepest secrets, you allow new channels to open up within your relationship that will strengthen your bond and help remind you what attracted you to your partner in the first place.
7. You Feel Safe and Protected Around Each Other
A romantic relationship should feel like “coming home,” which is usually a place where you feel warm, welcomed, and loved. You should never feel alienated, threatened, or confused about how your partner feels about you, or his or her level of commitment to you. After a long day at work, you probably can’t wait to get home and fondly embrace him or her and shower them with love and attention. A strong relationship will make you feel like all the world’s problems melt away in the presence of your partner, and you will never have to wonder about his or her intentions with you.
8. You Can Share Your Problems Without Feeling Like a Burden
If something is bothering you, you should be able to go to your partner without feeling like an unnecessary weight on their shoulders. While you should also be able to deal with problems yourself, having the support and guidance from your partner can help you through the situation at hand. They should actually want to take on the issue and help you brainstorm some solutions. A committed partner will always serve as your shield from life’s storms, and help you see the sun even through the dark clouds.
9. Your Partner Encourages You to Follow Your Dreams
Even if your dream requires you to travel or commit to a huge project, your partner will support you every step of the way. They will realize that you following your dreams will help you reach ultimate fulfillment, and will put your happiness above theirs. A good partner will not discourage you from your happiness for selfish reasons, such as waiting for them to finish school or find a career before YOU can do something that resonates with you.
While both of you will likely share a similar life path if you are in a long-term relationship, you might suddenly have an epiphany about your true life purpose somewhere along the way. Your partner will stand beside you, regardless of where your dreams take you or what that might mean for the status of the relationship.
Final Thoughts on Being in a Life Long Relationship
We’d love to hear how you knew YOU were in a life long relationship. Share your story in the comments. And, remember to follow PoP on Facebook!
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