- Self-worth: Don’t remain in a relationship with someone who makes you feel bad about yourself. Do you find that the more time you spend with your partner, the worse you feel?
This is a sign that it’s time to reconsider the relationship. You should make an effort to surround yourself with people who support you and make you feel good about yourself.
- Personal beliefs: No matter how in love you are, backing down when it comes to your personal beliefs should not be an option.
If you strongly feel a certain way about an issue that is near and dear to your heart, you shouldn’t be made to feel that you have to adjust your views just to keep someone close.
Once you start compromising your values and beliefs, you’re likely to start compromising on other things as well.
- Dreams and goals: Your partner should support your dreams and goals. Don’t give up your hope of achieving something just because your partner says you’re not talented enough.
Even if your dream seems unattainable, your partner should stand by your side instead of tearing you down
- Family: If your partner tries to isolate you from your family or turn you against them, this is something to be concerned about.
Possessiveness might make you feel special at first, but when it’s overdone to the point that you’re being kept away from family, something is wrong.
- Time alone: No matter how much you love each other, it’s important to spend some time apart. It’s nice that your partner wants to be with you, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of your “me time.”
Couples generally need time apart to recharge. Besides, if you’re always together, you won’t have an opportunity to miss each other, and you may start to take one another for granted.
- Close friendships: Everyone needs good friends in their life. Quality friendships make life richer and can help you get through the unexpected rough patches that come along.
Resist the urge to spend all of your time with your partner at the expense of your friendships. Remember that if you break up, your friends will be the ones to help you get through it.
Don’t push them away so you can focus on your love life. Be leery of any partner who encourages you to distance yourself from your friends.
- Respect: Your partner should always treat you with respect. Even if you’re having an argument and you’re both angry with each other, he or she should still speak to you respectfully.
This respect should also extend to your loved ones and even strangers. If your partner disrespects your family, close friends, or people providing a service (such as waiters or waitresses), this is a sign he or she has some character issues to work on. Don’t make excuses for the behaviour.
- Your deal breakers: Most people have a list of things they will and won’t tolerate in a relationship. If there are certain things you must have or can’t stand, don’t back down.
Stay true to yourself by not bending on the issues that would be absolute deal breakers for you. - Your personality: Don’t change the way you act or what you like in an attempt to make someone love or like you.
Eventually, the real you will come out, as it will be become exhausting to pretend you’re someone you’re not. Allow yourself to let the real you shine through.
- Safety: You should feel loved and safe around your partner. If your partner puts you in situations where you feel like your life is in danger, you need to find a way to safely break free from the relationship.
