Ever finding yourself stuck in a relationship even though every cell in your body tells you to run? Love can make you do crazy things and sometimes, people get hurt in the process.
You can’t afford to love for the wrong reasons. You only get one chance at life and love is just one of the key ingredients of a healthy relationship. If you can relate to any of these signs, take a step back and ponder what you can do to change your fate.
Here are 10 signs you are settling for less in love.
1. You feel lonely.
There is a huge difference between being lonely and being alone. Most of the time, people tend to let the former convince them to settle for less. You need to learn how to be comfortable with yourself. It’s not only liberating, but crucial for your own growth and development. Give yourself a chance to discover who you are and don’t be afraid to embrace being alone.
2. You believe love will fix everything.
Being in a relationship is not the answer to everything. It will not fill that hole that only you can fill, or reach the goal that only you can achieve. You don’t need someone else to complete you. No one can make you happy but yourself.
3. You have no idea what you want.
Whether it’s someone intellectual or adventurous, you need to establish what you look for in a partner before jumping into a relationship. It may not seem important at first, but it will sooner or later come into play. Although opposites do attract in some cases, you still need to have some similar interests or life goals.
4. You think it’s time.
Yes, the clock is ticking but you need to let go of the idea of being married by a particular age. Why risk spending the rest of your life feeling empty when you can have everything you’ve ever wanted and more? Never rush into things simply because you think you’re running out of time. Sometimes patience really is a virtue.
5. You don’t want to be left out.
All your friends are married or in a relationship and you feel pressured. You think you have to join the bandwagon in order to fit in. Don’t let society tell you what to do. Your happiness is more important.
6. You don’t think you deserve better.
You believe that you won’t find anything greater and you’re fine with that. It’s easy to convince yourself that you’re happy, but you can do so much better than just “okay.” Never stay with someone who belittles your dreams or expects you to be someone you’re not. Once you realize you deserve more, you will learn to move on.
7. You’re unconsciously disrespecting yourself.
If you can’t see your own worth, people will not take you or your feelings seriously. You have to respect yourself before others can. If you don’t like something, you need to voice out your opinions. When someone cheats on you, always remember that it’s a choice and not a mistake. Never tolerate anything unacceptable and honor yourself.
8. You feel exhausted and emotionally drained.
Love is not all always sunshine and rainbows. True love takes hard work. But if you feel unhappy most of the time, you need to wake up. Being in a relationship shouldn’t suck out the life out of you. It is actually quite the contrary and it should bring out the best in you.
9. You think people will change with time.
You can’t fix anyone or expect people to change, and if you think marriage will do the trick, you’re wrong. Stop being in denial because you certainly can’t blame someone for being who they’ve always been.
10. You’re tired of dating.
You think you’re too old to meet people or it’s too late for you to get back in the game. It’s never too late to start over. Rather than thinking this is as good as it gets, use your willpower to change your mindset and take a chance.
Change can be a good thing if you allow yourself to embrace it. Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering “what if.” Take a break or go soul-searching if you need to. This is your life. Don’t waste it by being content with mediocrity.
