When you feel good, feel that your partner is patient and true, treats you the same in public as he/she does at home, then you're on the right path. "Keep in mind that your intuition may send out warnings as well. It may come as a gut reaction. For example, if your partner wants to change you in any way.
You're Unhappy
And if you're staying with someone even though you don't enjoy being with him or her, you don't feel a real connection, and you find yourself actively going out of your way to spend time away from him or her, it's apparent that you're choosing to settle.
Doubt is a perfectly normal part of any relationship. It becomes problematic, though, when we avoid resolving it. You've heard it before, but it's worth repeating: Pretty much everything in a relationship boils down to communication, Batshaw says.
Most uncertainty in relationships is caused by fear, whether rational or not. You may fear being vulnerable with your partner and being rejected.
You know you're falling in love when your someone begins to take up major real estate in your thoughts. You might find yourself rehashing your conversations in the middle of work, thinking about your next date days in advance, or even envisioning your future together.
Generally speaking, you should want to be around the person you're in love with. "You want to be with them more and get to know them better," says Firstein. Crushes fade and you may get bored after spending time with the same person, but with love, you're never disinterested.
Your relationship only works in the future
The first tell-tale sign that you're settling is banking on the idea that your partner will change their behavior. Sure, things aren't great now, but you see potential in them. You string yourself along by telling yourself that you two just need more time together.
In fact, researchers found that men thought about confessing love six weeks earlier, on average, than women. The general consensus among studies on love is that men fall in love faster than women.
Dating requires little commitment. You may agree to specific aspects of a date, such as a date, time, and place, but that's about it. A meaningful relationship requires commitment from both partners. Relationships with commitment include looking to the future and exploring where things may take you.
If you develop a strong dislike for the other person over time despite loving them, that's among the bold signs you're not right for each other. It's time for things to change when you don't want to be around someone and do everything to avoid going home when the day is done.
They Don't Make You Feel Safe, Respected, or Comfortable
A true partner is someone who can hold you in their arms and make you feel right at home. If you aren't able to enjoy your time with them or feel safe around them, it may be a sign that something isn't right about the relationship.
Some put it down to bad luck and peg themselves as “magnets” who are destined to be in bad relationships. However, relationship experts believe it might have something to do with our mate selection mechanism, which sometimes tends to set us on “heartache mode”.
It feels CONSIDERATE / You feel considered. You feel like your partner considers you when it comes to their choices. They consider how you will be impacted by the decisions that they make. Your partner considers your feelings about the decisions that will impact you.
Love is both a matter of choice and a strong feeling. While feelings can change over time, love is more stable. Even if you don't feel the same way you felt about someone at the beginning of a relationship, you can choose to stay with them even in the more difficult or boring times.
Another way to figure out if it is a crush or an obsession is to think about a life without that specific person. People with crushes will often be able to “bounce back” after, but people with obsessions will feel as if they can not live without that person in their grasp.”
If you're falling in love, prepare for butterflies and excitement. However, if you're still distracted and completely wrapped up in someone after months have passed, it could be a sign of obsession. Obsessive passion isn't a healthy basis for a relationship.
Signs you just like the attention
If you're only talking to them for attention, Wood says you might notice the following red flags: You feel anxious without their time or attention. You're emotionally unavailable, and you keep your guard up. You don't know much about them beyond the surface (and you don't care to).
If you're unsure if you're falling out of love, ask yourself how you feel about your future as a couple. If you feel unhappy, trapped, or scared at the idea of being with your partner for the long haul, it's time to have a conversation with them.
Infatuation is often a fantasy-based, passionate longing for someone else. It can prevent you from acknowledging their weaknesses, and may even land you in an unhealthy situation. Love is often based in reality and is fed on closeness and knowledge of the other person.
Manipulative behavior is a major red flag in men because it implies that they are trying to control you. Manipulation typically involves someone exploiting someone else's feelings or insecurities to get what they want. They might do this by making someone feel guilty or ashamed.