Mastered the art of dating years ago and had your fair share of fun whilst you perfected your craft? Do you now feel like the chase no longer interests you?
Before delving into a serious relationship with someone, you have to have a serious relationship with yourself.
How you feel about yourself will affect how you feel about your partner. Whether it is working out for aesthetic purposes, or working on your career to prove something to yourself, always put yourself first before focusing on finding a mate.
Once you have discovered your personal strengths and weaknesses, you will be able to make room in your mind and heart for someone else. If you are literally all over the place and have no idea what you want in life, it will be reflected in your dating life. That is why those who are not ready to be in a serious relationship gravitate towards casual dating and sleeping around.
# Tired of the game
You have been in and out of meaningless relationships, had your fair share of one night stands, and flirted more times than you could ever keep track of. You suddenly feel this inexplicable yearning to stop and regroup your thoughts and emotions. You may be tired of not just the game, but of being single as well.
Fun is fleeting but true feelings and emotions are what stick. Although there is nothing wrong with being alone, you are tired of the singles game and want something more consistent. Slowing down is a clear sign of wanting to settle into something more meaningful.
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You know what you wantGone are the days of making flaky choices and thinking of the present. Confidence in yourself, your abilities and your future is a sign that you are ready for a proper relationship. When you know what you want and do not apologize for being yourself, you tend to make better decisions. This applies to every facet of life, not just on an emotional level when deciding whether you are ready for a relationship. At the end of the day, when you are confident about yourself, you can take on the world no matter what.
# You feel goodYou are probably ready for a serious relationship once you feel good being by yourself. You have realized that there is no need for a relationship to make you feel worthy and happy. Once you understand that being in a relationship is not about receiving love but rather, it is about giving the excess love that you have for yourself away, that is when you can say that you are ready for a significant other.
At the end of the day, being with someone is not about filling that empty void inside you. It is about expanding the love that you have and sharing it with someone special.
# Take your time
You are most likely ready for a long term relationship when you find yourself taking your time to get to know someone. Instead of mindlessly flirting to get into the other person’s pants, you take the initiative to talk and engage the other person in things that you are both passionate about.
It does not matter if the two of you discuss the state of the economy or your favorite yoga poses, so long as you make an effort to engage in interesting conversation with the sole purpose of getting to know the person, you are on the right track.
# Financially stableIt does not mean that broke people do not deserve to be in a relationship. It simply refers to the fact that if you are financially stable, you have more time and freedom to focus on making your relationship work as opposed to constantly worrying about where your next meal is coming from and whether you will be able to make rent this month.
# Emotionally availableIf you are emotionally available and are not prone to getting angry at the world for no apparent reason, you are more likely to be ready for a relationship than someone who is an emotional wreck. You have to be ready to accept someone else into your life to make a serious relationship work, and the only way to do so is to be emotionally satisfied with yourself first.
# Over your exIf you are not over your last relationship, you are certainly not ready for a new one. It is as simple as that. Make an effort to invite new and positive energy into your life even if it means severing all thoughts and ties with your ex if you have to. There is no point dwelling on the past if your goal is to progress in your future.
# You have interestsYou should have other interests in your life besides heading to the club every other day and flirting the night away. If you are able to indulge in healthy activities that make you happy, improve your lifestyle and make you a better person, then you are on your way to becoming ready for a serious relationship.
You have to realize that leading a fulfilling life does not mean investing your time and energy into doing something you enjoy then dropping everything for your relationship. It is about finding happiness in things that you enjoy and making room for someone special in your life.