9 Ways To Make Your Relationship Last A Lifetime

They say that love at first sight belongs in cheesy love songs, chick flicks and racy novels. In today’s day and age that plays host to skyrocketing divorce rates, fast paced lifestyles and predominantly online human communication, it’s far better to take a closer look.

In fact, many experts agree that it is the smart thing to do. Love at first sight exists, but it is not a very common basis for long-term relationships. The aforementioned quote goes to show the initial attraction doesn’t always carry over to long-term togetherness.

One of the reasons divorce rates have spiked in recent decades is because people nowadays rush into marriage without thinking it through first. Future goals, personalities, family life, careers and everything else come into play when deciding whom to spend the rest of your life with.

# You have been together long term

They say that the relationships that last the longest are the ones that are showered with the most attention. Deciding if your partner is “The One” is obviously made significantly clearer if you have been together long term. The longer you know someone, the more likely you will be able to determine if you belong together.

# Your gut tells you so

Although going with your emotions is not the smartest way to judge if you have found “The One,” it plays a very important role in the grand scheme of things. You will have an inexplicable feeling in your heart that you have found the perfect one for you. You will know just like that when all the pieces are in place.

# The timing is perfect

You have heard stories about perfect relationships not working out because the timing was off. Do not underestimate the importance of timing when it comes to being with that special someone. Finding “The One” is hard enough and even when you do, the timing has to be right. For example, he could be getting ready to move across the world for his career when you first meet or she could be getting out of a bad relationship and is not ready to commit. Pushing through despite a rocky start to the relationship may already spell the doom of your relationship.

# You are at peace

When you are in a happy and healthy relationship, you should feel an overall sense of happiness and peace. Everyday stresses should take a backseat to the positive emotions that you feel when you are with “The One.” Though you may go through some rough patches, you still find solace in the fact that you’re in a relationship with someone whom you’re willing to fight through everything with.

# You want things that you never expected

The people who have our hearts possess an inexplicable power to change our minds. Being with “The One” will change your mind on many things. For example, you may have pegged yourself as someone who never wanted kids but when you find “The One,” there is a very high chance that you will change your mind, even more so if your partner wants children. Stability and security tend to do that to even the biggest of cynics. The same can be said for those who never believed in marriage.

When you meet the perfect person for you, long term commitment will seem like the natural thing to do and not something to be feared. The same can be said for doing things that you never thought you would ever attempt like backpacking though India or hiking the Andes.

# You love their flaws

You know that you have found “The One” when you can confidently say that you still love this person despite their flaws. It is a two way street and if your partner can say the same about you, who is to say that you were not meant to be?

# You’re not together out of loneliness

As is the case with any relationship, it is very important to determine why you are with your partner in the first place. If you can confidently say that you are together not just because you are afraid of being alone, you are on the right track. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they have found their soulmate, just because they cannot stand the thought of being alone.

# There is mutual respect

Love and respect go hand in hand, and you have to realize that one cannot function without the other. If there is a deep sense of mutual respect in your relationship, then you can confidently say that you have found a very important quality that “The One” should possess.

# You completely trust each other

If you cannot trust each other, then you might as well break up right now. There is no point in kidding yourself into believing that both of you can work it out without the presence of trust. Being able to wholeheartedly trust your partner is one of the major determinants when deciding if you have found “The One.”