After a certain point in your relationship, you and your partner will ask yourselves, “What’s next?” Which can lead to conversations about marriage and life-long partnership. Regardless of what prompts these discussions, it’s important to think long and hard about whether you and your partner are ready to tie the knot.
Now, don’t panic! It can be difficult to know if you’re ready to spend the rest of your life with someone, but figuring it out comes down to simple analysis. Here are 5 signs you’re ready to commit to your partner for life.
- Financial stability
Financial stress is a leading cause of marital unhappiness and even divorce. Even though it’s impossible to avoid financial stress altogether, you can ease tensions by establishing financial stability early on. This doesn’t mean you need to be 100% debt-free or have a hefty savings account, but you should be financially stable to move forward in your relationship.
- Acceptance
Part of truly loving someone is accepting their flaws – ALL of their flaws. When we see something we don’t like about another person, we might feel tempted to turn the other cheek or change them. But all these strategies will do is damage your relationship in the long run. If you’ve accepted your partner’s flies in their entirety and vise versa, it’s a good indicator you’re ready to settle down.
- Self-love
Self-love and self-care are substantial elements of a successful marriage. It’s important to have a caring partner who supports you, but you should also maintain a healthy relationship with yourself. Making an effort to improve your self-esteem will show that you’re ready for long-term commitment.
- Trust
You and your partner should not consider tying the not unless you completely trust one another. This means practicing effective communication, frequent intimacy, and forgiveness. Once trust is broken, it can be difficult (but not impossible) to build back. Before taking the next step, consider how much you trust your partner.
- Shared goals and values
If you want a lifelong partnership, you and your partner need to be on the same page about your goals and values. Discuss your thoughts on marriage, children, careers, and even religious views. Having a general outlook on life will help you navigate the relationship when things get hard.