I’m pretty sure most of us know what a serious relationship means. However, I’m also sure that most of us don’t quite know how to recognize its patterns or how to shift from casual dating to something more serious.
Don’t worry. Today is the day you’ll get answers to all those questions.
Before we begin, I have a message for all couples who are striving for exclusivity. You’re about to embark on the journey of your life and it definitely won’t be an easy one.
There will be many challenges along your way and many, many ups and downs. However, you’ll understand in the end that it was all worth it. Everything is worth having the person you truly love by your side.
What Is Considered A Serious Relationship?
In the most basic sense, a serious relationship is a partnership between two people who decide to fully commit to each other. Without lies, games or betrayals… Two partners who prioritize their love over everything else and firmly decide they are in it for the long haul.
There comes a time in every relationship where the sickly sweet honeymoon period is over – that phase where everything is so new, and you’re completely overwhelmed with lust and infatuation that you can barely contain yourself.
It’s no secret that we all wish the honeymoon period could last forever, but unfortunately, we can’t hold on to those butterflies forever. (I’m sure serial daters wouldn’t agree with us on this one).
However, a relationship morphs from the infant honeymoon stage into something much sweeter, much stronger, and much more stable.
You grow as a couple into a serious relationship – something more difficult and challenging, yet so comforting and wonderful. You decide to commit to that one person and stay loyal to them forever (well, in most cases it’s forever).
How Do You Make A Relationship Serious?
First and foremost, reflect on your last relationship. Learn from your past mistakes and try not to repeat them in your new relationship.
You want to transit from the ‘just dating‘ phase to something more serious. That means you’ll need more commitment, more love, more respect, more relationship advice… Well, you’ll need more of everything.
If you feel ready to ‘promote’ your relationship and take it to the next level, here are some things you should pay attention to.
• Both partners need to want it equally.
You definitely need to discuss it with your partner first and see whether both of you are on the same page when it comes to this topic.
If your partner doesn’t feel ready, you shouldn’t rush or pressure them into it. Trust me, it won’t bring you any good. On the contrary, it may only result in a counter effect and make your partner pull back.
See also: How To Make Him Commit Without Pressure In 15 Effective Ways
• A serious relationship is all about monogamy…
If you want to commit fully to someone, it’s probably because you think they’re ‘the one’. And if you’re sure you’ve found your soulmate, is there really any reason to keep looking or keeping your options open?
• And a serious commitment.
Serious relationship = committed relationship. FULL STOP.
• Work together in order to grow together.
You need to communicate, trust and stand by one another when some relationship problems arise. Investigate what caused those problems and then work together on overcoming them.
• Share to show you seriously care.
Share your hopes, wishes, dreams and goals. Open up to each other completely. Share your flaws and imperfections, your biggest fears and insecurities. At the end of the day, that’s the only right key that can open the doors of a successful relationship.
• Get completely naked… emotionally.
The New York-based relationship expert, Esther Perel says that relationships require frequent pulse checks with one another.
That means that partners need to communicate regularly and listen actively to one another. They shouldn’t hide their vulnerabilities. And in order to maintain a strong emotional connection, keeping in touch emotionally is definitely a must.
• Develop a mutual sense of trust.
The fact is that this modern society of social media and hookup culture made us all struggle with trust issues. And it’s completely natural that you don’t trust a person the first time you meet them or the one you just start dating with.
However, once you decide to engage in a committed relationship with them, it’s truly necessary to work on building trust. Without it, you’ll never manage to have a successful relationship.
6 Signs Of A Serious Relationship
Being in love is the best feeling in the world and something that everyone dreams of finding in their life as a young one.
A serious relationship is a solid foundation for a happy life… But, how do you know when you’re in one? I’ll list the most definite signs of a serious relationship below, but these 8 signs you are in a stable relationship could help you, too.
Your partner becomes your other half
This might sound a little strange at first, but it makes complete sense when you think about it.
When you start dating someone new, it takes a little while for you to adjust.
You’re filling every spare second of your time with them, talking to them constantly when they’re not there or chatting on WhatsApp, and telling all of your closest friends every tiny insignificant detail about them.
However, when you transition into a serious relationship, they stop being a novelty, and instead, they become a constant comfort in your life.
You don’t even think about them as your ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend,’ but rather your person, your partner in life. That one person you simply adore and can always count on to make you smile.
They become your other half and you start wondering how you could ever live without them. You understand that they’re that void that was missing in your life in order to be completely happy.
And you can’t stop thanking God for crossing your life paths and blessing you with such a special, unconditional and unlimited kind of love.
You start communicating telepathically
You’re so used to them being there to offer you advice, reassurance, and comfort that you find yourself constantly imagining what they would say in any given situation – without even having to think.
Whether you’re faced with a challenge at work, you’re struggling with a friend who’s being a little bit of an ego-maniac, and you can’t be bothered to deal with them…
Or, you just can’t decide what to have for your dinner – you know your partner in crime would be there to tell you exactly what you need to hear, so you start imagining what they’d say.
That’s the first step to that exclusivity. You become connected both on the emotional and spiritual level and you come to the point you’re able to read each other’s minds.
Pretty soon you won’t be able to make a single decision without consulting them in your imagination – and that’s a sure sign you’re serious with your significant other.
You find yourself missing them all the time
This is a little soppy and a lot of ‘pass me the bucket’ – but it’s true. When you’re in a serious, healthy relationship, you miss your other half constantly.
It’s like I already said, you start wondering how you could ever live without them. No matter where you are and what you are doing, you simply can’t stop thinking about them.
Whether you’re having a tough day and need a cuddle, or you simply heard something hilarious and immediately want to share it with your love, there’s something pretty special about having someone you never want to be apart from.
You finally feel comfortable around them
When you meet someone new, it’s all about keeping up appearances. You want to be sexy and seductive, so you sleep in your makeup or get up early and freshen up before sneaking back into bed.
You think that letting out a fart is the worst thing that could ever happen to you – no matter how funny it would be! You see it as a huge deal-breaker, and you’re sure your partner would leave you immediately.
You want them to think that you are wonderful and oh so feminine, so you’d never dream of going to the toilet around them – and you always wear matching underwear!
However, when you’re in an exclusive relationship, you’re so comfortable and content that all of these worries go out the window.
You’re scraping your hair back into a bun, shoving those tracksuit bottoms on, and wearing those granny pants as if it’s your job.
You’re no longer shy about your toilet habits or about your time of the month because you know they love you no matter what, and that’s indeed what true love and a healthy relationship are!
They become part of your family
You know your relationship is hitting the next level when you welcome your other half into your family, and you also become a part of your partner’s family.
Your mum and dad adore them as if they’ve always been around, and even your grandma just can’t get enough of them! You know you’re in this for the long haul, and it’s extremely important for both of you to get along with your families and to get their approval in a way.
You’re on first-name terms with their parents and feel incredibly comfortable popping around to their house and making yourself at home.
You may even leave your toothbrush at their place, unconsciously of course. And that’s a crystal-clear sign that you’re planning to spend more nights at their place.
You keep arguing but stop making drama about it
When you’re in a long-term relationship – you get rough with the smooth. You’re so used to each other’s company that naturally you get a little irritated every now and then.
This can actually be very productive for a romantic relationship. The fact is that all couples fight but how they deal with those conflicts is what matters the most.
You start to bicker and argue about the silliest and most insignificant things, but these arguments are so natural and normal that you can have them without a single care or worry in the world – knowing that nothing is going to rock your relationship. Especially not who’s turn it is to do the dishes!
What’s The Difference Between A Relationship And A Serious Relationship?
When you enter into a new relationship – let’s face it – you can barely keep your hands off your partner, at least until that honeymoon period lasts.
You’re so in lust and attracted to your new beau that you want to tear their clothes off at every opportunity. You’re also out on ‘dates’ a lot when you first get together with someone, which is a super exciting phase.
However, when you’re in a serious relationship, staying at home watching Netflix in your comfortable clothes can be every bit as exciting as getting dolled up for date night.
Sometimes, all you want to do is go home, take your work clothes off and curl up with your favorite person. No hanky panky, just a good old-fashioned cuddle – and that’s perfectly fine with you.
And that’s exactly the biggest difference between casual dating and an exclusive relationship.
You don’t expect much from a casual relationship. You know exclusivity is out of the picture there. You’re aware it’s only a short-term fling and you just want to have fun while it lasts.
On the other hand, when you’re in a serious kind of relationship, you want to spend 24/7 with your partner and be 100% included in their life.
20 Serious Relationship Questions You Should Ask Before You Commit
Before you take your relationship to the next level and commit to your partner completely, here are some questions you should ask them.
It’s just to check whether you and your potential partner are really on the same page. That is, whether both of you truly want to engage in a committed relationship.
1. Where do you see yourself in the future?
2. What is more important to you – family or your career?
3. How is your financial situation and do you have any savings for some unexpected or urgent situations?
4. How important is our relationship to you?
5. What are the most important people in your life?
6. Do you want to have kids one day?
7. Do you enjoy spending time with my family?
8. Are you completely satisfied with the way our sex life is right now?
9. Do you trust me with all of your heart?
10. Do you believe in traditional gender roles?
11. Do you often make jokes about the opposite sex?
12. How much do you value the time we spend together vs your alone time?
13. What’s your opinion about infidelity?
14. Is flirting with other people considered cheating, in your opinion?
15. What do you admire about me the most?
16. Do you think we’re soulmates?
17. Should we include each other in our decision-making process?
18. Do you think our relationship lacks any boundaries?
19. Would you give up on some things because of me?
20. What are your biggest pet peeves regarding our relationship?
Final Words
If you’re reading this article and nodding along, then congratulations, you are safely in a serious relationship, and you can rest assured that you’re on to a good thing.
Neither you, nor your partner see your relationship just as some casual hookup. You both have the same aims and goals, and with true love as your biggest motivator, you’ll be able to accomplish them.
And remember this, the honeymoon period is so special, but a serious relationship wins every single time.