You may think you’ve found your soul mate, but how can you tell if it’s true love? We’ll explain.
Finding that one person you are truly meant to be with forever can make a grown man or woman cry tears of joy. But what do you do when you feel like you’ve found your soul mate — only to discover they’re not quite right for you?
While many factors contribute to whether or not a relationship will last, finding out that someone isn’t your soul mate doesn’t have to end things entirely. While some people may find themselves in an unhappy marriage, others may decide to stay together because they know deep down that they were never meant to be together.
“There are plenty of reasons why relationships don’t work out,” says Dr. Daphne Oz, host of “The Dr. Oz Show.” “Sometimes people get into relationships thinking they’re going to meet someone else later down the road. So when this person doesn’t come along, they feel disappointed or let go of the idea that they could ever meet their soul mate.”
If you’ve been dating someone for months or years, chances are good that you’re starting to think about the future — and wondering if they might be your soul mate. As we mentioned, however, sometimes the feeling isn’t there.
“It’s important to ask yourself, ‘Is this the person I want to spend my life with?’ ” says Dr. Oz. “If you still feel that way, then keep going. But if you start to second guess it, it’s time to move on.”
Read on to learn more about what to look for in your next partner, so you’ll know if you’ve found your soul mate before it’s too late.
1) They Make Me Feel Safe and Secure.
“When you find that special someone, you feel safe and secure,” says Dr. Oz. “You trust them. You feel comfortable around them. You feel like you belong with them.”
In other words, you feel like you can be yourself with them. This sense of safety and security is something you won’t always experience in a relationship, especially during the early stages. That’s why it’s so important to recognize when you do.
2) The “I Love You” Feeling Is Constant.
One of the best signs that you’ve found your soul mate is when you feel like you’re constantly saying “I love you” to each other. People often say that loving someone means never apologizing, but that’s not true. Even if you’re not sorry, you should still be able to express your feelings to one another.
3) I Know How To Communicate With Them.
It’s easy to overlook this factor when you start dating someone new, but once you’ve gotten to know someone over time, you’ll likely notice that they have very different communication styles. Fortunately, you can fix this by learning how to communicate better with your partner. After all, if you two can’t talk to each other, it’s hard to imagine being able to fall asleep at night.
4) They make My Life Better.
It’s worth mentioning. When you first begin dating someone, you’re probably looking for someone who improves your life. However, as you get to know them, you may realize that they don’t improve your life. They may even make it worse.
5) We Have Similar Beliefs About Relationships And Marriage.
We all have our beliefs about what constitutes a fulfilling relationship, but if you and your partner disagree about specific issues, it can cause problems. This is why paying attention to these differences is essential before committing to spending a lifetime with someone.
6) Our Goals For the Future Are the Same.
It’s pretty impossible to plan for the future without knowing what you want out of life. If you and your partner aren’t aligned on where you see yourselves in five or ten years, you may run into problems. For example, if you both want to have children, you need to agree on whether or not you would consider adoption before committing to raising kids together.
7) It Feels Right In All Ways.
Even though everyone has preferences regarding physical intimacy, it’s important to remember that no matter how much you enjoy certain aspects of sex, you shouldn’t force your partner to participate in anything they don’t want. Otherwise, you could risk hurting them emotionally, which is never fair.
8) Everything Fits Together Perfectly.
After a while, you may notice that everything seems to fit perfectly together, whether it’s your home decor, wardrobe, or even car. This signifies that you’re in a healthy relationship and may be in love. You may have fallen in love with them instead of with your relationship.
9) When Things Don’t Work Out Between Us, I’m OK Because There Was Always Something Special.
If you’ve had a bad breakup, you may worry that you won’t find anyone else who can compare to the person you used to date. Unfortunately, this can lead you to believe that you weren’t ever really meant to be together in the first place.
10) We Share A Lot Of Emotional Intimacy.
Emotional intimacy is the key ingredient to a long-term relationship. You’ll quickly become disconnected if you and your partner aren’t open with one another regarding your emotions.
11) We’re Both Willing To Try New Experiences Together.
For instance, if you’re afraid of trying new foods or activities, you may not be willing to try them with your partner. On the flip side, if you’re scared of trying new experiences, you may hold back your partner from trying new things.
12) We’re Not Afraid, To Be Honest With Each Other.
People lie to loved ones to protect their happiness. If you and your partner aren’t honest with one another, you’re missing out on one of the essential parts of a healthy relationship.
13) We’re Both Willing To Change Our Minds If We Need To.
You can’t expect your partner to change if you aren’t willing to change. If you’re unwilling to compromise, your partner is unlikely to be willing to do so, either. Before you commit to spending a lifetime with someone, make sure you’re ready to admit that you made a mistake or that you’re mistaken.
14) We Can Laugh At Ourselves Without Being Jealous.
Just because you’ve found your soulmate doesn’t mean you can’t laugh at yourself anymore. You can joke around with each other, tell embarrassing stories, or even act silly. When you two are laughing together, you bond and strengthen the relationship.
15) We Respect Each Other.
Your partner should respect you, and vice versa. If you two don’t respect one another, you may fight constantly. This is not a recipe for a happy relationship.
Once you see signs that you’ve found your soul mate, don’t panic! Remember that love isn’t perfect and that you aren’t obligated to stick with your partner if you get sick of them. But if you’ve done the research, you should.
