8 Signs You Have a Supportive Partner on Your Hands

Gaining the support of your partner is a must in every relationship. Is yours truly supportive of what you want out of life?

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell if your partner is supportive of your life goals–especially if you’re blinded by your own wants and needs related to them. For instance, you could convince yourself that they’re supportive because they ask about your dreams, but if that’s all they do, you might just be hoping that they are.

One thing is clear: having a supportive partner makes it easier to pursue your dreams, since you won’t have to deal with the added stress of constantly trying to defend what you want to do with your life. A good partner will not only encourage and listen–they’ll also appreciate your motivation and even find it sexy.

# They are understanding of your schedule, and don’t make a fuss when you need to cancel or delay plans

This doesn’t mean you should always skip out on time with your partner, because that makes you a workaholic or hobby-holic, depending on what your passion is, but when there’s a pressing deadline, or you’re needed for a special project, your partner should be able to put their selfishness aside and understand that you have other commitments.

If your partner cries, gets upset, picks an argument, or develops an attitude about the situation, it means they want to always be your number one priority, which shouldn’t be the case in a healthy relationship.

# When you need help, they do their best to be available

For instance, if you need their opinion on something you’re working on, and your partner says “I don’t know,” they either don’t like it, or they don’t care enough to form an honest opinion. A supportive partner will always help, offer suggestions, give their unbiased opinion, and lend a helping hand, even if it is just a simple coffee run.

# Talking about your accomplishments has become one of their favorite things to do

If your partner tells their friends and family about your accomplishments and can’t wait to share the news, even if you’re being coy about them, then it’s safe to say they’re proud of you. This means they are not only focused on their own goals, but are happy about yours, as well. There should be a sense of appreciation present.

# They ask questions about your day-to-day work, as well as special projects, stresses, or promotions

Note that this doesn’t mean they ask how your day was as a greeting, and then tell you about their day, instead. This means they genuinely ask several questions about whatever it is you’re passionate about.

They ask what you did, get into your stories, appear to pay attention, ask about projects and what they entail, congratulate you on promotions, and generally just enjoy talking to you about what you’re up to. They’re completely at ease with the possibility of talking about it for as long as you need to, and they share in your stresses and joys.

# When something happens at work, they are the first to offer advice and suggestions

It’s always a bright idea to stay independent when it comes to problems. Over time, you learn that relationships are about support, but not direct problem-solving, unless those problems are issues that directly relate to your relationship. For instance, venting about work and listening to their advice is different from expecting them to solve the issue for you.

# When you accomplish something noteworthy, or even something small, they show genuine excitement

Picture a scenario where you come home and tell your partner your idea was a big hit at the meeting and everyone is considering you as a lead for the new company project. If your partner jumps up, hugs you, and showers you with recognition, then it’s safe to say that they might be your number one fan.

# They are keen on listening to your stories, and don’t tune you out or use their phones during the conversation

If your partner doesn’t ask, either because you blurted things out before they could ask, or because they’re forgetful, a good sign that they’re still supportive is if they give you their full attention when you’re telling them about your passions.

This means they put their phone down, look you in the eye, ask questions, react appropriately, and follow all the other sure signs that they care enough to listen. If your partner simply nods, agrees to something at the wrong time, and asks questions that make no sense, you know they’re not that interested.

# Every time you want to quit on your dreams, they refuse to let it get the best of you

There are points in everyone’s career when they feel like nothing they do pans out correctly, either because they can’t seem to cope with the stress or they’re just uninspired. During these times, a supportive partner should listen and offer advice, just like stated previously, but they also shouldn’t let you throw in the towel and walk away from all you’ve worked hard to accomplish.

Instead of letting you quit a job or give up on trying to make a good impression, they ought to be the first to tell you you’re taking the easy way out, and they aren’t afraid to make you see reason.