Despite the fleeting moments of our lives, we all want a relationship with someone special to last. But how do you know if yours will?

Between adult responsibilities, raising kids, and taking care of ourselves, it seems that staying in a relationship comes with more challenges than ever before. So, what makes the difference between relationships that only last a few months and those that stand the test of time? Well, trust, respect, and true love must exist for it to last, of course, but you can go by the signs listed below to know if you have a serious relationship or not.

Here are 5 telling signs your relationship is meant to last:

1. You have virtually the same outlook on life.

In the “talking” phase of your relationship, you probably talked to your partner about your hobbies, interests, favorite memories from childhood, and what your family is like. Sharing these things with your partner helps them get to know a little bit about you as a person, and likely set the stage for a second date.

Somewhere down the road, you probably wanted to know them on a deeper level and get an idea of their core values and morals. If both of you have very different interests and hobbies, but connect on a deeper, spiritual level, you will have a higher chance of making a lasting connection than two people who have no core values in common. In other words, the way you choose to live your life should match up with how your partner chooses to live theirs. If both of you have the same outlook on how to handle finances, how to raise children, where to live, have similar spiritual practices, and have the same general outlook on life, you will probably be able to maintain the relationship in the long-term.

The main point to take from this is that hobbies and interests change, while core values and beliefs usually don’t. Having these in common is key to making relationships last, according to a study done by researchers at Michigan State University.

2. You still laugh and have fun with your partner

If you can still crack jokes and roll on the floor laughing with your partner after months of being together, your relationship will definitely stand the test of time. The key is that you two don’t get bored of each other after extended periods of time. Even if life gets in the way of you spending time together, the time you do share is spent laughing, having fun, and simply enjoying the beauty of the world together.

3. You love one another unconditionally

This one should go without saying, but we thought we’d include it anyway because it’s a key ingredient to a lasting relationship. You can love each other’s flaws and perfections equally. Besides, you have each other’s backs no matter what. You don’t put conditions on the love you share, in other words. Furthermore, you don’t stop loving your partner if they gain fifteen pounds or lose their job or anything else temporary in life. You love them, support them, and stand beside them through life’s storms and sunny days.

4. You accept one another wholeheartedly

You don’t try to change each other, no matter what. Indeed, you accept them with all of their little annoyances and habits. That is true even if they get on your nerves sometimes. You understand that no one can be perfect. So instead of continuing to search for something that doesn’t exist, you accept your love without question, and focus on their positive traits. Also, you help them work on the “negatives” if they so choose. You don’t want a plastic relationship – you want the real deal. Therefore, you choose to accept everything about your partner, and not try to force change upon them.

5. You have no desire to be with anyone else

If you think about being with other people, it immediately disinterests you. You feel so happy and complete in your relationship now, that you wouldn’t dream of being with anyone else. You feel satisfied, alive, and thrilled about your relationship. In fact, you want to stick things out for the long haul to see where it all leads. You see endless opportunities in your partner’s eyes, and everything just feels right with them around.

Related article: 6 Signs You’ve Found the One