The one. It’s something that so many people spend much their lives looking for---and understandably so. Some search for the one through professional matchmaking companies. Others use online dating sites. And still there are those who prefer the more “old-fashioned way” by either allowing a family member or friend to hook them up---or they wait for the Universe to join them via a chance meeting at a local coffee shop or grocery store.
Whatever the avenue, if there’s something that anyone who has already found the one for them will tell you, it’s this: While finding the one is not always the easiest thing to do, once you have met the man or woman that you want to spend the rest of your life with, it definitely makes everything that you had to go through in order to do so worthwhile.
Yet in the midst of all of the possibilities that are around you, how can you know, with absolute certainty, that you’ve found the perfect match for you? Although we don’t profess to have all of the answers, hopefully the following six signs will provide you with at least a little bit of clarity. And peace of mind.
They love you (with words and actions). “I love you.” It’s the three words that pretty much all of us long to hear at some point. Yet here’s what you need to keep in mind about them. Love is not simply a sentiment that is put on a Hallmark card. Love is an action word. So, if someone claims that they love you, you should expect them to show it. They need to be physically affectionate. They need to be emotionally passionate. They need to make you feel that you are an extremely important part of their life; someone who is a top priority in their world. “I love you” should be a declaration of an intention to follow that through with doing things. Daily.
They respect you (with words and actions). Respect is about being in a relationship with someone who holds you in high esteem. This means that they are going to speak to you with kindness and courtesy. They are going to honor whatever boundaries that you have put in place. They are going to appreciate you, recognize the time and effort that you put into the relationship. Plus, they are also going to treat you in a dignified manner---both in public and in private. If you don’t have respect in a relationship, no matter how much love you have for one another, it’s not going to be healthy. Respect is paramount.
They’re your cheerleader. When a person gets into a relationship with someone, that doesn’t mean that they lose their individuality. In fact, the right relationship will simply make them believe and feel that when it comes to their dreams, goals and ambitions, the sky truly is the limit! When someone is not intimated by your aspirations but are actually the first ones to say “That’s awesome, babe! You can do it!”, that’s the kind of person that you definitely want to keep in your life for as long as you possibly can. The world can be hard. It’s always comforting to have a cheerleader.
They help you to explore new things. A wise man once said to do something new every day. And while the demands on your schedule may make that pretty close impossible to do, you should at least try something different a few times per month. Newness helps to broaden your perspective and every time that happens, you grow. So yes, if you’re with someone who always has a unique date idea in mind, who encourages you to try new foods, genres of music and activities and wants you to add some new stamps on your passport (or wants you to get a passport for the first time), that’s awesome! They are going to be a whole lot of fun to be around. Plus, you’re sure to experience some spontaneity and surprises along the way!
They tell you that they see forever with you. One mistake that some people make when it comes to relationships is assuming that the person they’ve fallen for has the same intentions as they do; that just because they are hanging out together and having a good time that it’s headed towards the altar (or at least something long-term). Listen, the only way that you are going to know that for sure is if you A) ask or B) they tell you. But if the person you’re falling for says that they feel the same way and there’s no way that they can imagine you not being in their world for the long haul, we’re willing to bet some pretty good money that you did, indeed, have met the one.
They bring out the absolute best in you. When it comes to your friendships, your career path and certainly your relationship, if there’s one thing that they all should have in common, it’s that they should be helping to make you a better person. So, if you don’t like who you are (or have become) with someone, take that as a clear indication that they are definitely not the one for you. On the other hand, if you wake up really feeling like you’re soaring emotionally, intellectually and spiritually because of who you are, in part because of who you are with, they’re a keeper. Let them know that for you, you feel, that they are the one.