It is surprising how we sometimes think we are ready for a relationship but eventually find out that we are nowhere near ready. Maybe it’s related to a bad breakup or due to some other factors about yourself or emotional maturity, but it is important to ensure that you are ready for a relationship before you enter the next one.
Every relationship is demanding and requires a lot of input from both partners. Hence, it is imperative to evaluate yourself to see that you are ready for a new relationship.
Whether you are still moving on from a previous breakup or you are about to enter your first relationship, here are the signs that you are ready for a relationship.
15 Signs You Are Ready For a Relationship
You don’t have to be a hundred percent ready before you embark on a new relationship but if you see these signs, it means you are now ready for a new relationship.
1. You feel self-confident and fulfilled
You don’t need a relationship partner to feel complete or fulfilled. If you are not yet confident about yourself and your abilities, entering into a relationship could become a disaster. The aim is to first discover yourself and then find a partner who aligns with who you are and what you are becoming.
Suppose you don’t first discover yourself before entering a new relationship. In that case, you run the risk of losing yourself and your values which can make you unhappy in your life and the relationship. You deserve to be in a relationship that makes you happy and fulfilled. Hence, one important sign that you are ready for a relationship is how you feel confident and fulfilled in yourself.
2. You no longer find flings satisfying
Gone are those days when you just want to go a one-night stand and that’s it. The more ready you are for a relationship, the more your orientation about relationships and marriage changes. You begin to realize the importance of being committed in a relationship.
Casual sex and flings can be great ways to have a good time. But as you become more ready for a relationship, you may find that temporary flings are no longer what you want. You’d rather have sex with your committed partner than with any random stranger.
3. You have healed emotionally
If thoughts about your past relationship are what has been haunting you and depriving you of finding love again, demonstrating that you are now open to meeting someone else can be a sign that you are now ready for a new relationship.
When you have healed emotionally, you see that your feelings and decisions are no longer tied to your past hurtful relationship experiences. You now own your feelings and are not likely to transfer responses from the past against minor actions from your current partner.
4. You talk about finding a committed partner
Another important sign that you are ready for a relationship is that you talk about finding a committed partner. If you notice that your vocabulary has changed from finding a one-night sex partner to finding someone who stays with you through life, that’s a sign that you are now ready for a relationship.
When asked what you are looking for in a partner, one of the key things you would mention will be about finding someone who is committed to being with you. If this is you, it’s a sign that you are ready for a relationship.
5. You are willing to compromise
Compromise is about letting someone else have their way sometimes. You now understand that things don’t always have to go your way.
If you see that you are no longer that firm and selfish in your decisions, preferences, and desires, this can mean that you are now ready for a relationship. That is the right attitude to live peacefully with anyone, and in a matter of time, you will find that person who deserves to be with you.
6. You keep an open mind with your standards
Initially, every one of us gets scared of being with someone completely different from us. But as you get more mature and ready for a relationship, your standards start getting more realistic. Instead of giving a long list of standards you want for your partner, you start getting more open-minded and flexible in your desires.
7. You have moved on thinking about your ex
One of the greatest setbacks against entering a new relationship is when one is still stuck in thoughts about an ex. When the weather is cold, you may find yourself thinking only about your ex.
On the other hand, if you notice that you no longer think about your ex on those cold nights, that’s a sign that you are ready to move on with someone else now. It now becomes easy for you to think about someone else you were attracted to during the day or sometime recently.
8. You pay special attention in observing/admiring potential mates
When getting into a relationship is nowhere near the top of your bucket list, you find yourself not interested in observing potential mates around you. However, when you are ready for a relationship, you pay closer attention to an attractive person close to you.
When you are not psychologically ready for a relationship, you don’t care who walks past you even when he/she has the type of physical and behavioral qualities you would want in a partner. If you notice that you are being more observant lately, that’s a sign that you are now more ready for a relationship.
9. You no longer feel hurt seeing your ex happy in their new relationship
Are you still hurt when you see your ex happy in another relationship? That is a sign that you have not moved on yet. And if you have not yet moved, you have no business going into another relationship.
One great sign that you are ready for a new relationship is that you can feel that you are fully healed from your last breakup and you are not bothered when you see your ex being happy with someone else. In fact, you are genuinely happy that your ex, which is a sign that you have emotionally moved on and are ready to enter a new relationship.
10. You don’t want to be single anymore
Singlehood is the single most fulfilling and independent time of everyone’s life. It is the time when there are no distractions or troubles from another person who identifies as your partner. However, it is also the most lonely period of anyone’s life.
Initially, you are happy being single and you just want to remain so until you fulfill some of your dreams. Also, being in a relationship can be very demanding and love-consuming. Despite that, as time goes by, you begin to yearn more towards leaving the singlehood state and finding a partner. This is a sign that you are ready for a relationship or enter a new relationship if you have been in one before.
11. You are happy to go with the flow
Going with the flow demonstrates an openness to start something with someone new with the hopes that the relationship can grow into something bigger. It demonstrates your willingness to try different people and give them a chance to win your heart.
When you are being too picky about who to go on a date with, you are already ruining your chances of finding someone you would love. And this is often a sign that you are not fully invested in entering a new relationship. The contrary is true when you are ready for a relationship; you do not want to let trivial things get in the way of meeting someone new.
12. You are more willing to go for outings
You may not be the out-going type but finding love oftentimes requires you to leave the comfort of your house. Going for outings increases your likelihood of finding someone interesting and lovable. Many people would have told you to go out more often, but when you are ready for a relationship, you will be more willing to listen to them.
13. You admire attractive people
A lot of beautiful and handsome people pass you by without noticing when you are not ready for a relationship. But one clear sign that you have become emotionally ready for a relationship is when you start keeping your eyes on the lookout for someone you’d be attracted to.
Do you or do you not turn your face when you walk past someone attractive? Do you pay attention to a guy/lady’s attractive features as they walk towards you? These are some of the signs that you are ready for a relationship. When you are not ready for a relationship, you don’t care who walks past you or comes towards you.
14. You feel more accomplished
You may not be where you desire to be yet but you are not where you used to be. Another great sign that you are ready for a relationship is when you feel more accomplished in important areas of your life, including education, career, and personal development.
Those are some aspects that may make you not want to consider entering a relationship yet, but once you start getting some results in those areas, you may begin to feel more ready to find a partner to be in a fulfilling relationship with.
15. Fewer people get into your emotional space
When you are ready for a relationship, fewer people (especially potential mates) come into your emotional space. The number of men/women wanting to spend time with you may reduce by a lot, even if you don’t have any bad habits that drive people away.
The reason why that happens is being ready for a relationship can send relevant signals to other people because of how it can impact your words and behavior. Thus, you may naturally repel unserious people while attracting the few serious-minded people who might be interested in settling down with you.
What to do When You Are Ready For a Relationship But Still Afraid
It is possible to be fully ready for a relationship but you are still afraid to open up for one. You may see attractive people coming towards you but you are too scared to make the move. This can be very challenging because you are caught between two desires of wanting a relationship and not wanting it.
To move on from this fear, you have to find out the deep reasons why you are feeling so and find ways to handle those issues. This may just be the last step before you encounter something most beautiful in your love life.
It could be fear of being hurt, it could be fear of not being valued, or fear that you may not do well in a relationship after having spent a long time by yourself. Whatever the reason is, it is important to face it head-on and tell yourself that there is nothing to be scared of.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best signs that I am not ready for a relationship?
The clearest signs that you are not ready for a relationship include selfishness or self-centredness, wanting to be in your own space, and not being ready to allow anyone in. This shows that you'd rather prefer your calm and independent single life over being with someone, which can be very exhausting.
Another sign that you are not ready for a relationship is if you still show signs that you have not moved on from the breakup with your ex.
How do I know that I am mature enough for a relationship?
Emotional maturity is about being understanding, empathic, patient, and tolerant. If you demonstrate these four unique qualities, it shows that you are mature enough for a relationship. Happiness in every relationship is about making compromises and sacrifices. This should come easily when you are emotionally mature enough for a relationship.
How do I tell someone that I am not ready for a relationship?
Oftentimes, an observant person would study your body language when you are trying to say that you are not ready for a relationship. He/she may still want to push his/her luck to see if you would open up and give him/her a try but if you still don't feel the desire to enter a relationship with him/her, you should tell him/her straightaway what you want from the relationship you have with them.
What you should not do is ignore them simply because you don't know how else to tell them that you are not interested. Many people do this a lot but it is not the most mature way to politely reject someone's desire to be with you.
Can I have sex and enjoy myself when I am not ready for a relationship?
Of course, it's your life to live. When you are not ready for a relationship, you are contented with the flings and short-time sexual unions but when you become ready for a relationship, these do not satisfy your inner emotions anymore.
How long will it take for me to be ready for my next relationship?
There is no specific amount of time to get over a breakup but studies have shown an average of 3.5 months. Whether the reason for your delay in getting ready for your next relationship is related to the past hurt or not, it is still not easy to say exactly when you will be ready for your next relationship. The time depends on how much you commit to learning about understanding yourself and handling people and relationships.
Nice and very informative, my Doc.
Thank you very much, my dear friend.