For most people, getting into a relationship comes with a need for long-term commitment, but sometimes you may find yourself with a person who makes you wonder if you made the right choice. Read on to find out if your partner exhibits some characteristics that are considered red flags in any relationship.
1. There is no mention of you in their future plans
If your partner never mentions you in their future plans, or there is never a talk about ‘we,’ then there’s probably no future. Chances are your partner is either self-centered or they really just do not see you in their future. Either way, such a person cannot be any good for you.
A healthy relationship will nurture and encourage you and your partner to work as a team, and even during the initial stages of a relationship, there can be plans for the next month, or even week – the bottom line is that you need to feature somewhere in there.
2. There is no expression of feelings
So your partner does not explicitly say that she loves you, or they have never given you anything to express their love? This probably means that something is wrong somewhere.
While it is not expected for someone in love to profess it directly within two days of dating, and it is not mandatory to buy gifts every time, all the time, it is however important for your partner to express their love. While people express love in their own unique ways, there needs to be that expression, otherwise you run the risk of ending up in a cold relationship where you resent your partner.
3. There is no respect for your privacy whatsoever
It is cute and lovely to share absolutely everything with your partner, but in the long run, to sustain a good relationship you need to be an individual in your own right. If your partner cannot respect your space and privacy, then you will have problems in the future. Depriving someone of their privacy usually signals lack of trust, and we are all aware of the repercussions of a relationship with no trust. In a non-toxic relationship, you should be able to express your individuality in your own space and still be able to share things with your significant other.
4. Your partner is abusive
There is no way to justify abuse of any form in a relationship. Whether it’s physical, emotional, or verbal, abuse of any form should never be tolerated from your partner. People who stay in abusive relationships usually justify it by putting the blame on themselves, when they are actually not the problem. If your partner constantly reminds you of how you are not good enough, or how you lack something, then it is time to get out of the relationship.
A good relationship is built on trust, love, and respect, and if your partner does not value you, or they are just negative, you are in a toxic relationship which you need to escape fast. We all have our flaws, but nothing ever warrants abuse – we are beautiful and worth it, each in our own unique way.
5. Your gut just tells you that something is not right
Never ignore any bad feeling or sense of foreboding you get about your partner, it’s probably your subconscious mind trying to tell you that something is off. It is better to be heart-broken now – your heart will heal – than to end up being stuck with a person who is just not right for you in every way imaginable. Our hearts and our minds speak to us most of the time when it comes to making important choices and decisions, and sometimes it is just best to follow your instincts.
Relationships can affect our day-to-day lives, and they play an important part in determining how well we live our lives. Therefore any red flags should not be ignored, but should be dealt with promptly.
If your partner exhibits one or more of these red flags but they are receptive to your concerns and want to become better, by all means give them a chance, but never forget to listen to your inner voice. You can almost always tell when someone is putting up a show or they are not being genuine. Always keep a close network of friends and family whose opinions and views you trust who can help you, and always remember, communication is key.