Is your partner the right one? Does he or she make you happy? Are you ready to settle down and start planning the future together? If you ask these questions, it may be time to take inventory of your relationship to determine if your partner is the one for you. Take these tips into consideration as you decide whether or not your partner is the one.
Respect
You must have respect for yourself and for others. True love can’t exist without it. How can you expect others to respect you if you don’t respect yourself? But once you get some self-respect, don’t go giving it away to anyone who says they love you. After all, that person who loves themselves should value and be respected in return; true love does not require or demand anything from another person that isn’t freely given.
Focus on each other
When you’re in a relationship, it’s easy to focus on yourself. It’s also very easy to focus on everything you don’t like about your partner or what they can do better. Focus on things you love about each other instead of just existing in a bubble together. You will see how great they are and become better versions of yourselves by paying attention and caring for each other.
Acknowledge each other’s feelings
When you’re in a relationship, chances are you want to do everything you can to make it work. That starts with being understanding and acknowledging what your partner goes through daily. If he or she asks for space, understand why they’re seeking it and allow them to have it without trying to tear them down. If he or she is feeling anxious about something unrelated to you, ask how you can support them instead of getting upset.
Show interest in each other’s day
The key to a long-lasting relationship isn’t grand gestures but remembering to be kind and attentive to each other, even in everyday moments. When you ask how their day was and listen, they will feel cared for and valued. It’s not romantic, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important! A good way to start? Set a specific time at night (like after dinner) where you both are sure to give each other your full attention.
Listen when you’re together
When you listen to someone, you’re not just letting them know that you hear them–you’re actively hearing and absorbing what they have to say. Most people spend more time listening to others than they do communicate with others, so if you don’t pay attention when your partner speaks, they might begin to feel ignored or unimportant.
Do things together even if you don’t want to
Any healthy relationship has to be based on mutual respect and admiration, but that doesn’t mean you have to like everything about each other. Get out of your comfort zone and do things you don’t like to do but make them happy. You might realize it’s not so bad or that it was something you didn’t know you liked before trying.
Don’t take each other for granted
While it can be very easy to get caught up in a relationship, it’s also important not to take each other for granted. Try to still go on dates and show each other you care. You don’t have to spend hours planning an elaborate date every week. But a simple walk after dinner or drinks at a local bar can create memories that will last a lifetime and help make your love last.
Compliment often
There’s a reason why you should always tell someone how beautiful they look, even if it’s a bit of an exaggeration. Some researchers believe that complimenting others helps build their self-esteem, making them feel more attractive and increasing our chances of achieving an intimate relationship with them. Complimenting someone doesn’t just make us feel better—it makes them feel better too.
Encourage each other’s dreams
If you love someone, you should encourage them to follow their dreams. Don’t be a drag on their ambitions. If you want to make a relationship work, you have to help foster and nurture it with actions, not words. When people stop encouraging each other’s dreams or ambitions, that’s when most relationships die.
Stay close physically and emotionally
When you are newly dating someone, you will have a strong bond. If you stay physically and emotionally close, you make your partner feel like he or she has gained back an important part of his or her life. It also means that there isn’t much difference between being together and not being together. This reinforces your connection and can keep you from losing him or her to someone else in case things don’t work out romantically.