When you know, you just know, you know? Yeah, blah blah blah, I get it. Sometimes you need other (and more concrete) indicators to show that you’ve met someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with, so here are a few ways to tell if you’ve found “the one”.
You’re Happy Just Being With Them
When you’re spending time alone with your partner, it doesn’t feel awkward or tense. You can sit there reading a book whilst your partner is on their laptop, and you’re content. You don’t have to always be doing something in order to feel like you’re having fun; when you’re with them, that’s all you need. Whether you’re sitting on your modern bed frame or you’re riding your bike down to the beach, you’re content because you’re by their side.
You Respect Each Other’s Opinions, Values & Interests
Not everyone has the same thoughts, feelings or interests; they just don’t. It’s boring if they if we’re being honest. When you’ve found someone that you think is the one, you’re open to hearing their opinions, you respect and share their values and you take interest in their interests. They, in return, do the same for you. They won’t belittle what you’re interested in, because it makes you who you are; it’s a part of your personality, and they love that about you.
You Don’t Expect Perfection
Louanne Ward from Louanne Ward Matchmaking shares her wisdom. “If you make the decision to truly open your heart to love and finding “THE ONE”, please don't get caught up in the false fantasy of your ideal and most perfect partner. The one who is right for you, is the one who you decide to love, who you are challenged with and challenged by, supportive of and supported by. The traits you admire are also the traits you can end up despising. Therefore, the quickest and easiest way to recognise you've met the one, is when you see right from the beginning, the equal advantage and disadvantage of being with this person, rather than becoming infatuated with the fantasy. Then, you can have a truly fulfilling relationship. By accepting the positives and negatives and if the person you meet does the same, you can commence your life journey together and the dating game is complete – you’ve both won.” Find out more about Louanne by following her on Facebook and Instagram.
You Don’t Have To Compromise Beyond What’s Reasonable
Emily Chadbourne from That Crazy LIttle Thing Called Love, shares her advice. “Look, we all make little tweaks to our lives when a new relationship happens. For example, I no longer eat cookies in bed because my partner hates the crumbs I inevitably drop as I tuck into my second (okay, third!) one. But sacrificing things which make you truly happy and healthy (seeing friends, going to the gym, expanding your collection of paperweights etc) are warning signs that s/he’s not ‘the one’. The one will support you in your greatness and love you for who you are without trying to change you.” Find out more about That Crazy Little Thing Called Love (and have a giggle at her witty humour) by following her on Facebook.
You’re Not Afraid To Be Yourself (& Vice Versa)
When you’ve found someone you can be yourself around, you know you’ve hit the jackpot. Rather than be on a diet version of yourself, which is expected on the first few weeks of dating, but when you’ve finally hit that mark where you can let down your guard, and be your true self without feeling shy about it, you know you’re in it for real. You can sit in your pjs with no makeup on, and they can subtly let one rip without feeling shame or feel like hiding their true selves. You also know that you’re in it for the long haul if you’re not pretending to like something for the sake of pleasing them.
It Doesn’t Feel Like A Soap Opera
Michele Peppler from Soulful Connections Coaching for Life & Love shares her advice.“There's little drama. If you are constantly trying to 'work' the person out, what they meant in a text, if they really like you or rehashing dating scenarios with friends, chances are that person isn't the one. Not that there may not be hiccups along the way but from my experience when someone meets 'the one' there's not as much dramatic to and froing. It becomes easy to know you're really into each other fast without game-playing or guesswork. You just fit. They might feel 'right' or familiar to you. People might say you look right together or you could be a physical fit. This is more a knowing than anything else.” Find out more about WithinWithout by following them on Facebook and Instagram. When you’re with someone that you know is special, you can save the soap opera inside the TV screen on your stylish entertainment stand, and enjoy each other’s company.
Sometimes, you don’t even need these concrete reasons, you just know. Yes, I know, it’s so cliche, but once you’ve found someone you’d love to spend the rest of your life with, you don’t mind the cliche stuff so much.