If Your Partner Has These 15 Attributes, Hold On Tight

Most of us want to find “The One,” but it can be a difficult search. When you finally find yours, make sure that the person you choose to share your life with has these essential traits:

1. A curious mind There may be nothing more important than spending your time with someone who wants to explore and learn and grow as much as possible. It’s exhilarating and helps you satisfy your deepest curiosities at the same time. Your relationship will never be boring!
2. A genuine heart So many people in the world let their history affect and change them in negative ways. You want the person who worked through the bad times with grace and used them to become a better human being. Someone who lives authentically and positively with no fear of love is someone to treasure.
3. A kind soul Observing the way someone treats other people, animals, or even objects tells you a great deal about that person’s true self. Choose a partner who’s kind and considerate all the time and to everyone they meet because then you know that behavior will also apply to you.
4. A compassionate desire to help. There’s no better way to give than to be of service to those in need. If you’re with someone who wants to aid in making the world a better place, you’ve found a special partner. You’ll know whether it comes from a genuine place or not. A generous human is someone you want to keep.
5. A great sense of humor. Laughter goes a long way in keeping love fun and interesting. It helps your relationship survive rough patches and tough personal struggles. Many people rank the ability to laugh with their partner as important as their ability to communicate and trust each other.
6. A high level of respect for you Never, ever stay with someone who doesn’t respect you. You can have everything in common but without the proper treatment, you won’t be happy. Someone who doesn’t respect their romantic partner probably doesn’t respect much in general.
7. A playful attitude If you have fun together, definitely enjoy it! So many people take themselves too seriously. Someone who can laugh at themselves and about life is much easier to be around. Awaken your inner child and appreciate the fact that you can be silly together.
8. A love for the world This can translate in many ways, but you want someone with a generally positive outlook and appreciation for the beauty around them. You may not live in the prettiest places or be in the best situations all the time, but this attitude transcends all that noise. It’s wonderful to have someone who sees beauty everywhere.
9. A strong moral compass It is essential to be with a partner who understands what’s right and wrong and who has a keen desire to be a good person in all ways. It’s not always easy to do the right thing, but if you’re with someone who tries their best, value their commitment to their standards.
10. A grounded set of values Not to be confused with morals, values are what your partner prioritizes in life. Make sure that your values line up and that you want the same things in life so that you know it’s a good fit. Realistic priorities are essential to happiness.
11. A deep sense of self Always choose someone who knows who they are and what they want. This doesn’t mean they’re perfect—everyone is always growing and changing in all sorts of ways. It just means that if you find someone who understands themselves, it’s a very beautiful thing. You’ll notice the difference.
12. A wide open heart Some people find it very difficult to open up to love from others and also to spread love around freely. If you find a special and loving person, don’t let that person go. Don’t be insecure about it—having a partner with so much capacity and desire to care is amazing.
13. A willingness to be vulnerable It’s so tough to find an individual who’s capable of true emotional intimacy. You know the difference when you see it—we’ve all been in relationships where our partners simply could not go there fully. When you do find that level of depth with someone, know that it’s rare and treasure it.
14. A desire to share your path in life This isn’t about simply going along with whatever you want, but rather sharing a similar vision for where your lives are headed both separately and together. When your paths align, everything else falls into place in a natural way. Never underestimate how crucial this element is in your partnership.
15. A true appreciation of your worth If you identify any of these qualities as the one that you definitely can’t do without, this is it. They’re all important, but someone who doesn’t know how special and precious you are shouldn’t get to have you in their life. That’s the bottom line. If someone does honestly and truly love you like they should, don’t take it for granted.