When you've finally met that one person that you've clicked with, the time you spend with them feels magical and exciting. But you can't ignore the little voice that wonders what the future holds for you both. Is this person truly "The One"?
The question you really should be asking is "What are the early signs of a good relationship?"
There are traits that we know must be present in every healthy relationship, such as mutual respect, trust, honesty, support, fairness, equality, playfulness, fondness, separate identities, and communication, and the presence of these qualities is the best way to predict whether the relationship will last or not.
The problem with simply listing the traits we're supposed to look for is that these ideas are abstract. They are not things that you can see or touch. The only way to tell that they exist is by evidence of them or behaviors that prove their presence.
Read below to learn the signs a new relationship is going well.
You Fight Occasionally But Are Able to Resolve the Fights With Good Communication Skills
Every couple will have times when they passionately disagree. It's completely normal and not a sign that your relationship is doomed. However, those times you do fight, you should be able to resolve them maturely.
We often hear about the importance of having good communication skills, but what does that really mean?
Let's say that your new boyfriend tells you that he'll leave work early for your date night. You're so excited and can't wait to see him. You get to the restaurant on time, take a seat, and begin to wait for him to get there. After a while, you realize he's late. You call his phone and it's switched off! You're not sure what to do so you wait. After an hour, he doesn't arrive and his phone is still switched off. You're livid and decide to leave. Once you get home, your boyfriend finally turns up.
It's at this point that you must make use of all the communication skills you possess. Yet it's at this time that most people completely forget how to communicate in a healthy and constructive way.
Your instant reaction when you see your boyfriend is to fly into a rage, but what you should do first is listen. Hear what he has to say, because he likely has a reasonable explanation for why he stood you up. Once he has explained himself, you can express how hurt, embarrassed, and worried you were.
If you and your partner are able to resolve fights like this with good communication then this is one of the early signs of a good relationship.
You Are Sensitive to Each Other's Feelings
A healthy relationship requires both people to be sensitive to each other's feelings. If your partner has had a rough day, it's great if you're able to notice it and try to think of a way to make them feel better. It doesn't have to be large gestures; simply suggesting they take a hot bath while you bring them a glass of wine might be all it takes to make them feel cared for and supported.
These kind acts are proof of the support that all healthy relationships need to survive long term.
You Prioritize Each Other
We know that it's important for people in healthy relationships to spend quality time together. The problem with this is that many people will only spend time together when they happen to not have anything else to do. If they have other things to do, this quality time together will keep being postponed.
The key is to still set aside time for your romance even if both of you are busy with work. This will strengthen and deepen your bond. This is how you prioritize each other.
You Get Along Well With Each Other's Friends and Family
It's important that couples make an effort to get along with each other's friends and families. Even if there are issues that make doing so difficult, it's necessary that each person continues to be friendly. This way their partner knows that they still respect the relationships they have with their friends and relations. This is evidence of mutual respect.
Also, getting along with the other people in our partner's life means that you are able to embrace each other's separate identities. We might not always like the relationships our partners have but we can separate our identity from theirs and know that we don't have to love the same things or people.
If you're seriously asking yourself the question "How do you know if you are dating the right person?" It's probably your friends and family that you'll turn to for the answer, so it's a good idea to try to have a good rapport with them.
You Have the Same Plans for Your Future
This is a vital part of being in a healthy relationship, but unfortunately, it's something that's often overlooked. At the beginning of a relationship, it's important that you have these difficult conversations.
Do you want to eventually get married, have children, move to Australia?
It might be hard, but ask the right questions and find out if your future plans are the same. If they are, then take comfort in knowing that this is one of the early signs of a good relationship.
You Have Time to Yourself and Your Own Hobbies
When (most) women find a new romance, they generally want to spend all of their free time with their lover, basking in his attention and affection. They struggle with the idea of maintaining a level of independence from each other. But it's a necessary part of being in a well-balanced relationship.
Time to yourself will allow you both to appreciate each other more when you are together. Time spent enjoying your hobbies will put you both in a good mood. This sense of lightheartedness means you'll be able to share another of the positive attributes of a healthy relationship - playfulness and fondness.
Summary
Unfortunately, we can't see into the future and know for sure whether our new relationships are going to last. But we can predict whether they are likely to or not by looking out for the presence of certain traits. Knowing what these traits are in real-life situations allows us to truly understand what it means to have, for example, good communication skills or the same plans for the future. If you are one of the lucky few that have experienced most of the attributes described above, then congratulations, as you might have found your Mr or Mrs. Right.
If not, at least you now identify the early signs of a good relationship and you'll make more of an effort to make it work.