When you’re involved with someone romantically, it’s important to note the little signs that can give you a clue as to which direction the relationship is heading in.
Whether you are in the early stages of your relationship or not, you should always be keeping an eye out for your partner’s behaviors that can tell you if they will make your life better in the long haul.
Here are some green flags to look out for to know if your partner is a keeper:
Open Communication
The ability to communicate freely, without any fear of repercussion, is one of the biggest green flags that you should look out for. Open communication can be as simple as being with someone who is completely honest with you, no matter how trivial the topic may seem.
We’ve all been involved with people who leave us observing their non-verbal cues, the tone of their text messages, and waiting in the dreaded silence for a response, trying to decipher how they feel.
While we can all become overwhelmingly busy and take longer to respond, no matter the situation, your partner should be able to respectfully tell you what is bothering them and openly communicate with you.
If you find yourself feeling like your partner is playing mind games with you and you’re constantly wondering if they’ll respond to your messages, that’s a red flag.
Healthy Disagreements
Everyone has disagreements; they are a part of any long-lasting relationship. But, you should be able to have these disagreements without them severing your connection.
You shouldn’t be worried your relationship will end every time you disagree with your partner.
If your partner threatens to leave every time you have a small argument or exacts lasting punishments on you as a result of your arguments, like the silent treatment, it’s a bad sign.
It’s a green flag if you can continue getting along in the immediate wake of an argument because it’s a signal that the relationship as a whole is more important to both of you than the argument.
A study found that holding hands, or sharing light touches during disagreements, had great effects on the overall mood and heart rate of the people involved.
Sharing light touches with your partner during a disagreement is a great way to diffuse tension while letting them know you are engaged and there for them.
They Make You A Better Person
People in our lives can sometimes bring out our negative traits, but your partner should bring out the best in you; you should like who you are when you are with them.
The person you are with should encourage your positive traits and encourage your personal growth.
You’ll know if they make you feel good about yourself if they support you and your goals.
They Listen To You And Remember Things
While this one may seem obvious, it’s much more than just your partner listening to you.
When your partner truly listens to you, they hear you. They remember the little things about you, and they’ll show you that they care through their words and actions.
Listening to you also means taking note of the things that make you uncomfortable and respecting your boundaries.
You Can Be Yourself Around Them
If you find yourself laughing, smiling, and never doubting yourself around this person, that’s a definite green flag!
And while this is all great in the beginning stages, it’s important to be with someone who consistently makes you smile and brings out who you truly are.
Remember that these are simply signs that they might be good for you; if your partner doesn’t do every one of these, don’t be overly concerned, this could be a guide to improving the relationship! On the other hand, if you find that your partner lacks most of these, this could be a chance for you to re-evaluate and see if the relationship is truly healthy for you.
