Dating is a lot of fun and can be an exciting part of your future. But if you find yourself in a relationship with someone who isn’t treating you well and isn’t making your life better, it may be time to end the relationship.
Here are some signs that you may be ready to start dating.
1. You value and respect yourself in a relationship:
It’s important that you respect yourself and your body and that you value yourself.
If someone treats you badly or in a way that makes you uncomfortable or unhappy, you need to respect yourself enough to walk away.
No one is entitled to treat you in a disrespectful manner-not, even your boyfriend or girlfriend. You are entitled to be treated well in your relationship.
You deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. If you’re in a relationship where you feel less of a person or less capable of managing your own life, then you may need to end the relationship.
2. You have a future in mind:
If you know what you want for the future and you can see a clear path to it, it shows that you’re motivated to work on something.
Your future is important to you, so don’t settle for someone who isn’t willing or able to give you the things that are important to you.
And you should also be confident that you can stand on your own two feet. Don’t fall into the trap of needing a relationship to make you feel good about yourself — you will only be left feeling miserable and lost in a relationship. And when you feel that way, it’s hard to build confidence or maintain motivation to find your own happiness.
3. You are ready to start a new chapter in your life:
When dating, you’ll meet lots of new people. Some of those people will turn out to be great friends, and some will turn out to be romantic interests.
You may be attracted to different types of people because you want several different things in a relationship. Or maybe you’re holding out for that perfect person — the one who is everything you’ve ever wanted in a partner.
You might fall in love with and be drawn to someone who is completely different from the other people in your life. Or maybe you’ll find a partner who you would never have met or been attracted to if you hadn’t started dating.
A relationship can open up many possibilities for you, and it can also teach you a lot about yourself.
A person who is interested in dating and who has good social skills and confidence can adapt well to any situation. And when you’re ready for a relationship, that’s a valuable quality in yourself.
4. You have time for a relationship:
If the idea of having a relationship seems overwhelming or impossible, it’s a clear sign that you’re not ready for one.
No relationship can happen without mutual respect, time, and energy from both partners and an investment in their future together. You may be too busy or exhausted to invest in a serious relationship.
If you don’t value yourself enough to make yourself available to someone special, then that is another sign that you aren’t ready for a serious relationship just yet.
5. You’re ready to share your life:
A good relationship is a two-way street. You have to have something to offer, and you need to be comfortable with the idea of sharing yourself with someone else.
If you feel like there’s nothing in your life that you’d be willing to give to someone else, then there’s not much you can offer in a relationship.
And if you can’t open up enough to share parts of yourself with someone else, then it may be time for some introspection about why that is.
6. You are ready to commit:
A commitment to living together, sharing jobs and children, or even marriage, is a sign that you’re ready to move towards a permanent relationship.
A relationship can feel temporary when it’s just friends or casual dating because you aren’t committed to each other or your future together.
But if you’re serious about a long-term relationship — one that involves marriage, kids, a home, and shared finances — then this is the time for you to make your intentions known.
You enjoy spending time with the person you’re dating, and your life feels richer. You are able to be yourself around them without trying to censor any behavior or emotions. You feel safe in the relationship and can trust that you can say or do anything without fear of criticism from your partner.
You feel completely comfortable around the person you’re dating. You have nothing to hide, and there are no secrets between you.
…
You feel as if you’re getting to know them more and more every day and that you’re getting closer and closer to each other. You enjoy spending time together in your future home, with your friends, or with family.
When you start dating, take some time to think about what is important to you. Ask yourself what type of person you want to be involved with and how that relationship would make you feel.
And ask yourself if the person you are interested in dating is someone who will treat you well.
Then be honest with yourself about how well these signs line up. If they don’t, it may be time to take some time away from the relationship, or it may mean that you need to make some changes in the way you feel or the way you want your life to be.
And if they do line up, that’s a sign that you’re ready for a serious relationship.
—
This post was previously published on medium.com.
***
You may also like these posts on The Good Men Project:
White Fragility: Talking to White People About Racism | Escape the “Act Like a Man” Box | The Lack of Gentle Platonic Touch in Men’s Lives is a Killer | What We Talk About When We Talk About Men |
—
Photo credit: Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash