Ready for an Exclusive Relationship

Being in an exclusive relationship is often referred to be as “going steady”. This suggests stability so the key is to identify signs that the relationship that you are about to enter in will last. A relationship is only as good as the people who are in it.

The first sign that you should look at is your own readiness. Here are some questions that you should answer honestly. If you answer yes to all of them, then you might be ready for an exclusive relationship.
Are you clear about your life’s purpose? In other words, are you pretty sure about what you want out of life and what is expected of you?
Have you identified the kind of support that would help you to achieve your life goals and aspirations?
Do you have clarity about the kind of qualities that a partner would need to have in order to provide you with the support that you will need?

The key here is to evaluate your state of mind going into this relationship. If you are full of confidence and assured about what it is you want to achieve in life you stand a very good chance of making a wise choice of a partner. You will also be able to conduct yourself in a way that your partner will find attractive.

Your personal level of self-confidence is the first indicator of your readiness for going steady.

The next important sign will naturally relate to your partner. Do NOT assess your readiness for entering into a relationship on the basis of the excitement that you might be experiencing at this time. The fact that you cannot bear to be away from your partner is not a sufficient reason to believe that both of you are ready for exclusive dating or marriage.

If you want to be blessed with a truly lasting relationship go back to the questions and qualities above and seriously evaluate whether your prospective partner is likely to provide the support that you will need for self-actualization or fulfillment. Look into the future when some of the physical attraction wears off. Since relationships are two-way streets it is imperative that you take time to identify the aspirations and dreams of your life partner.

Can you relate to their life goals and are you able to support them in achieving their objectives?

So, the second sign that you are ready for an exclusive relationship is that you and you partner have goals and dreams that are in sync.

The third sign of readiness to go steady with an exclusive partner is the attitude of the partners to relationships. Some people are just not cut out for exclusive relationships. They prefer to be free spirits.

Settling down for any meaningful period of time is not on – no matter how passionate and committed they are at the beginning. Spend time in introspection about your views on relationships. Are you philosophically disposed to long-term relationships? Are you likely to work patiently to overcome the inevitable conflicts and challenges that impact all relationships? What are your partner’s views on these issues?

Partners who are committed to long-term relationships consistently enjoy happier and longer lasting unions than their free-spirited counterparts. So, are you ready?
Evaluate your personal level of assurance and understanding of your life purpose.
Identify the dreams and aspirations of your partner and see of they are in sync with yours.
Check to see that both of you are in this for the long haul and will work patiently to overcome difficulties.