Getting into a new relationship is an exciting time, but the rush of feelings can sometimes blind you to some pretty serious red flags. How do you know you’re actually on the right track and well on your way to a healthy, happy, fulfilling relationship? Here are some signs.
- Things that used to bother you don’t bother you anymore. Even before you start an exclusive relationship with someone, you notice things about them that bother you a little bit–or more than just a little bit. It can be little things like the way they dress or smell, their chainsmoking habits, their need to drink alcohol every day or how they pick their nose in your presence. There are times when these little things become an issue, but if your relationship is the right one, those little things don’t matter at all.
- Jealousy is a thing of the past. This is especially true for those who used to get jealous quite easily. Whether they want to admit it or not, couples sometimes fight because of jealousy. Maybe one of them is the jealous type and they don’t like it when their partner hangs out or talks to another person, or maybe the other can see that their partner’s best friend wants more than just a platonic relationship. No matter the reason, in a healthy relationship, all these stupid and unnecessary fights become mostly extinct.
- You don’t feel insecure. Unless you’re a highly confident woman who never worries about her looks or her worth, then there are times when you feel like you’re not good enough—and it negatively affects your relationship. Insecurities can put you in a bad mood and can make you act weird and insecurities are a total turn-off after awhile. When you’re with the right person, however, you start to feel way more comfortable and stop worrying so much about all your imperfections. After all, your partner loves them.
- You barely fight anymore. If you’re always fighting with your partner, chances are they’re not the one for you. But it could also be that your relationship just needs more time. Maybe you both need to sort your own problems out first before you can solve your problems as a couple. When all your problems have been sorted out, you’ll no longer have a reason to fight, so fighting becomes less and less frequent until it rarely happens anymore.
- When you do fight, it doesn’t last hours. I said “barely fight” in the previous paragraph because even couples who have a stable relationship still fight. However, these fights are almost never big. Sometimes, when people get stressed or frustrated, they have the tendency to take it out on the people around them, including their partner. In a stable relationship, your S.O. won’t hold this against you and instead helps you feel better (and vice versa). In a lot of cases, the fight doesn’t even last 30 minutes.
- You no longer miss being single. When times get rough in relationships, you have to you’d find yourself thinking about how things would’ve been easier if you were still single. You even sometimes missed how you could easily stop seeing someone you didn’t like or fantasized about having a different date each week. When you’re finally in a happy, healthy, fulfilling relationship, that’s no longer a consideration and you wouldn’t change your partnership for the world.
- You no longer worry about the future. One of the problems with starting a new relationship is the uncertainty. Even when you’re over-the-moon happy in the first few months, you still worry about what it’s going to be like in a few years. If you’re extremely attached to your partner, thoughts of your partner leaving you could plague your mind. But don’t worry, if you’re with the right person, things get better and those fears ease. The future is the least of your worries when you’re in a stable relationship.
- You can talk to your partner about anything. It’s really hard to find someone you can talk to about literally anything these days. There are things we’re afraid to say to other people because of the possible consequences, and you definitely don’t want your partner to dislike or get mad at you for being honest. This is something people in a healthy relationship don’t worry about, though. They can say whatever they like because they know their partner is mature, understanding, and supportive. Can you say the same?
- You don’t argue about chores anymore. No one likes being the only one doing chores, and you totally shouldn’t be. Relationships are a two-way street and this should especially apply when you’re sharing a living space. In a healthy relationship, you both chip in to keep your place clean and comfortable, no fights or guilt trips required.
- You’re not just partners, you’re best friends. While no one can replace your girls—you’d never let that happen—in a healthy relationship, you’re proud that your partner is also your best friend too. That’s how you know it’s meant to last.
