It’s easy to get swept off your feet in a new relationship. But when the excitement fizzles out and the honeymoon phase is over, you can actually see signs that a relationship will work out for the long term. (If you pay attention in the beginning, those red flags will become deal-breakers.) The signposts of a future breakup are many, but most people don’t realize what those look like.
So, we want to provide you with some things to look out for that signify a broken or ill-fated relationship.
Here Are 11 Signs A Relationship Isn’t Going to Last
“Find the strength inside yourself to value your own worth more than staying with someone who only keeps you down.” – Anonymous
1. You don’t talk about the future together.
One of the signs of a relationship not working is if you’ve been dating for a while but haven’t talked about your future. For instance, if you’ve been living together for 18 months but your partner refuses to discuss marriage, it could be a big red flag. If you didn’t have the “marriage” talk before moving in, you could be in a difficult position. Maybe you want marriage, and they don’t or visa versa. Have a difficult conversation and get on the same page. It’s better to find out now, than when you’re invested too deep.
2. You’ve been in the relationship just for the passion.
Passion has brought you together as a couple but what happens when that mellows down? If you haven’t experienced a strong connection in other areas, it won’t become long-term. For a new relationship to flourish, it needs to go beyond the physical connection. You should be emotionally and mentally connected as well. So, if you feel that you’re in this together for the passion only, it’s probably best to end the relationship because that kind of connection won’t last long.
3. There’s no honesty and openness.
Mature relationships allow partners to be forthcoming and open with each other because of their level of intimacy. It becomes a big problem when you hide stuff from your partner or when you feel you cannot be yourself. Psychologist Antonio Borrello told Huffington Post that hiding feelings can happen because there is no trust. It’s also possible someone is doing things incompatible with their ideas as a couple, so they bury the details. If this is the case, then the relationship doesn’t have a solid, strong foundation.
4. There are no fights, but no communication either.
You believe you’re in a blissful, stress-free relationship because you don’t fight. But you might not realize that fighting is a form of communication. It happens when couples are trying to reach a compromise together. Couples who don’t fight aren’t communicating their feelings. It’s a sign that they don’t want to work their conflicts out, which could signal the end of a relationship.
5. You don’t like your partner’s friends.
The company you keep defines who you are. People are usually drawn to make friends with folks who like the same things they like or have the same qualities they have. So, if you don’t like their friends, this can be one of the signs of breakup. Why? You’re likely going to discover more things about them that you might not like as well. Remember, friends reflect who you are.
6. You’ve developed similar interests but have not pursued others.
Partners, who love to do similar things ideally live happily together, right? When two people like the same stuff, it’s supposed to be positive, or at least that’s what everyone thinks. But relationship expert Erika Boissiere told Bustle that this isn’t always a good thing. If you’ve been doing the same things together and have stopped pursuing your separate and unique interests, then you could end up with a broken relationship. This implies too much dependency on your partner, which won’t allow you to grow and evolve into your own person.
7. There’s no empathy.
Your partner had a huge fight with their best friend, but you can’t understand why they’re so depressed about it. So, you become dismissive of their feelings. But the lack of empathy for what your partner is going through is another sign that the relationship won’t last. If you’re attuned to each other, you must be able to understand and imagine each other’s struggles since empathy is also a form of connectedness. If this feeling doesn’t exist, you’re in a broken relationship.
8. You don’t have decisions in the relationship.
Who always chooses where you eat or what movies you watch? In the beginning, always letting him pick the places might seem fine because it does feel good that he has taken care of these simple choices. But small choices do matter to your relationship if you’re trying to make it last for a long time. If your partner constantly dismisses your choices, that’s a sign that your opinion isn’t valued. This can hurt your connection with each other.
9. There’s no give and take.
In the same way as giving value to your choices, how often do you compromise? Who is always the first to make up and apologize when you have a misunderstanding? The romance can quickly burn out if there’s no give and take. If you’ve been sacrificing your needs just to “compromise,” you will soon be drained and exhausted. The relationship will quickly end because it is already a broken one.
10. Your partner treats other people poorly.
People always put their best foot forward at the beginning of relationships, but you should always pay attention to your partner’s behavior towards other people. For example, how do they treat waiters? How do they act toward their parents or co-workers? If you’re in a long-term relationship with this person, you will have ups and downs. And when the love and affection aren’t there, how will they treat you? Your relationship might not have much of a shot if they’re this way.
11. You feel obligated to be with your partner.
If going out for dates feels like an obligation, consider this a sure sign the relationship isn’t going to last. When you have no energy and enthusiasm to be with them, other than because you think it’s your obligation, maybe it’s time to fess up and end things for good.
Final Thoughts on Knowing the Signs of a Relationship on the Wrong Track
There are many signs of an unhealthy relationship most people don’t realize, but these red flags can be dissolved if you discuss your issues with each other. If your partner is willing to talk and fix the issues, then you have a gleam of hope that you can pull through together.
