It's natural that once you've been in a relationship for a long time, you start to consider if you're with someone who you'd be interested in spending the rest of your life with. You know you love her, and you think that you're ready to make that next step, but how can you know for sure?
While there's no way to be absolutely sure and no one can tell you how you're feeling, there are a few signs that can help you figure out if this is the woman you should spend your life with.
She Has Standards And Sets Boundaries
Having standards for what you'll allow in a relationship and setting boundaries will lead you to having a healthier relationship overall, regardless of how much you love your partner.
You want to be with someone who knows what she deserves and is clear about what she's okay—or not okay—with.
She Doesn't Need To Be With You Constantly
Yes, we know that you want to spend every waking minute together because you're deeply in love, but it's also important to have separate hobbies and friends that you can spend time with.
She's okay with you having a night out with your friends, and sometimes she'd rather go for lunch with her coworker than go out with you.
She's Independent
She doesn't need to be in a relationship, and she doesn't need you in her life, but she wants you to be, and that's what matters. She can manage on her own perfectly fine, but she's choosing to be with you.
She Has Her Own Opinions
You need to be able to have conversations with your partner that are interesting, especially if they're the person you want to spend your life talking to. You want to agree on all the major life philosophies or moral qualities, but you don't need to agree on everything.
And She Doesn't Need You To Always Agree With Her
The chances of you finding a partner who has exactly the same opinions as you on every aspect of your lives is slim to none, but the important thing is that you can have a real discussion.
If you disagree with each other, does she handle it without getting defensive or upset? Can you work through arguments together rather than causing a big fight?
You Turn To Her For Advice
She's the person who you trust to give you the best advice in any situation, and her opinion is the one that you always want to make time to listen to.
You Feel Lucky To Be With Her
You never want to be in a relationship where you feel like one person is significantly better than the other, or like you're not good enough for your partner, but you want that element of "wow I can't believe I'm lucky enough to spend my life with her."
She's Not Afraid To Be Silly
You want someone who knows when to take things seriously and when it's okay to crack a few jokes. If she can make you laugh and cheer you up when you're in a bad mood, you've found a good one.
She Gets Along With Your Friends & Family
You never want to be the friend with the girlfriend or the spouse who everyone secretly dislikes and wishes you wouldn't bring along.
Our friends and family are the people we trust, and they have an outside perspective on your partner that isn't clouded with the love you have, so listen when they give their opinions.
She Makes You A Priority
You each have your own lives, your own ambitions or hobbies, and you don't need to spend all your time together, but you know that she makes you a priority in her life.
She thinks about your feelings, and she makes time for you when you need her to (and when you want her to).
She Takes Care Of Herself
She pushes you to be the best version of yourself and she does the same for herself. She understands the importance of taking care of her mental, physical, and emotional health so she can be the best person she can be.
She's Your Biggest Supporter
She's the first person you want to call when something exciting happens or when you accomplish something. She's your biggest cheerleader, and you know she's going to want to celebrate with you.
She Doesn't Play Games
It may seem fun in the beginning, but eventually, the games are going to get tiring for both of you. You can only stay in a relationship with someone who plays games for so long.
She Has Her Own Goals And Ambitions
You have goals that you're working towards, and she has her own ambitions, and now you're figuring out how you can both continue to pursue those goals while being in each other's lives.
She Pushes You To Be The Best Version Of Yourself
The longer you're with someone, the easier it is to feel stagnant in your relationship, which is why you need to find a partner that pushes you and encourages you to develop your best self.
She Gives You Space
She sets her boundaries, and she respects the ones that you set. When you tell her that you need an afternoon to yourself or you need a little space, she respects that.
You Can't Imagine Not Having Her In Your Life
Take a moment to think about your relationship, and think about whether you could imagine being where you're at with anyone else. If you really can't imagine your future or your present without her in your life, that's a pretty good indicator that you've picked well.
She Doesn't Pick Fights For No Reason
There's a difference between being passionate and being dramatic. As a couple, you're going to fight or have the occasional argument, but do you want to spend your life with someone who picks arguments simply because she's bored or likes the drama?
She's Straightforward
She tells you what she needs from your relationship, she shares her feelings with you, she communicates well, and she expects you to do the same. You don't need someone who beats around the bush, especially when it comes to the major issues or discussions.
You've Seen Every Side Of Her
You want to be the best version of yourself for your partner, but there are going to be times where that's not possible. Life isn't perfect, so there are going to be difficult times, and you want to know that you can work through those times together.