Life Partner: What Qualities Should I Look Out For While Choosing a Life Partner

 

   Choosing a life partner is a significant decision that can greatly impact your happiness and well-being. While everyone's preferences and priorities may differ. Certain traits and qualities, like respect and empathy, can help your relationship flourish in the long-term and benefit your mental well-being.

   When dating somebody new, you might have a list of qualities you’d like them to possess — such as ‘makes me laugh’, ‘great in the bedroom’, or ‘gets along with my friends’. Sure, these are worth taking into consideration. But when you start thinking about this person as your life partner, there are other ‘deeper’ qualities to bear in mind.

In the course of your relationship! There are things you should really look out in your partner, “These could help make whatever time you have together feel enjoyable and reasonably free from relationship tumult.”

Basic Traits You Should Look Out For

1. Compatibility: Look for someone who shares your values, interests, and goals. Compatibility in terms of lifestyle, beliefs, and long-term plans can contribute to a strong foundation for a fulfilling relationship.

2. They Demonstrate Respect: Aretha Franklin sang that we all need respect — and she wasn’t wrong. But it’s not about expecting your partner to respect you more than they respect themselves. they should consider your opinions, values, and feelings and act accordingly. It’s also important your partner demonstrates respect for your personal boundaries. “Each partner must agree to not cross those boundaries, regardless of disappointment, hurt feelings, or in times of anger,” Head asserts. Receiving respect is also vital in helping you maintain self-respect and knowing your value and worth.

3. Trustworthiness: Trust is the bedrock of any successful relationship. Seek a partner who is reliable, honest, and consistent in their words and actions. Trust creates a sense of security and allows for vulnerability and emotional intimacy.

4. They show empathy: Simply put, demonstrating empathy is the ability to recognize and understand another person’s emotions and needs. While it might not be a quality that first springs to mind, empathy is critical to relationship success. A 2022 studyTrusted Source found that empathy is linked to relationship satisfaction. Partners who are empathetic are more likely to experience loneliness and insecurity if they’re dissatisfied in their relationship, compared to those who lack empathy. In addition, “having an empathetic partner helps us feel more heard and understood in the relationship,” states Ghanbari. This not only aids in bringing a sense of fulfillment, but also helps build trust and respect.

5. Shared vision of the future: It's important to have a shared vision of what you want for your life together. Discuss your aspirations, dreams, and expectations, including topics such as family, career, and personal growth. Alignment in these areas can help ensure you're working towards common goals.

6. Emotional and physical compatibility: Emotional and physical connection are vital aspects of a romantic relationship. Seek a partner with whom you share a deep emotional bond, have compatible communication styles, and experience a satisfying physical and intimate connection.

7. Supportive nature: Look for a partner who supports and encourages you in your endeavors and helps you become the best version of yourself. A supportive partner can provide motivation, understanding, and be there for you during both triumphs and setbacks.

8. Shared values: Similar values help create a strong foundation for a lasting relationship. Consider important aspects such as spirituality, ethics, and moral beliefs. While some differences can be accommodated, fundamental value mismatches can lead to conflicts in the long run. They recognize and appreciate their imperfections. We’re not talking about someone who thinks they’re perfect and never strives to improve themselves when necessary. Instead, these individuals can “see their own flaws with grace and without self-deprecation, shame, blame, or avoidance,”.

If your partner can do this, you’ll both reap the rewards. “They will have enough confidence and self-love to be able to acknowledge when they’ve made a mistake,” she continues. Plus, “they will be much more likely to provide the same safe space for you to be imperfect and be less likely to deflect blame and responsibility.”

9. They’re open to influence: "With some partners, it’s either their way or the highway,”. For instance, she says, “have you ever dealt with a partner who knows your needs and wants and refuses to give you what you ask them?”. But being with someone willing to accept your needs and consider your opinions is vital. In addition to boosting your feelings of self-worth and self-respect, it also “leads to more satisfaction and happiness as you feel essential to [them],” says Ghanbari.

10. They listen and are open during arguments: If your partner doesn’t actively listen during disagreements and simply waits for their next opportunity to give their two cents, it “does not give space to problem-solving,”. Furthermore, feeling like your point of view isn’t being appreciated can create feelings of frustration, resentment, disrespect, and that you’re ‘not being seen’.

“Remaining open and curious allows for more information to be taken in and allows one to see new perspectives,” Head continues. This can be particularly beneficial in “remedying difficult situations.

What does a healthy relationship look like?

   While it’s important to look for and recognize favorable traits in your partner, it’s also crucial to recognize the responsibility isn’t solely on them. In a successful relationship, it takes two to tango. “Singles can enter the dating world with a myopic view of what they need and want,”. This is especially true if they are coming off a bad breakup or have wounds from past relationships.

It’s important to also “take a deep look into whether you’re capable of providing the same; So does this mean you should have the exact same traits and attributes as your partner? Definitely not.

“People come with all kinds of strengths and weaknesses,”. The best relationships are not necessarily made up of people who are the same, but by people with strengths that help to support the shortfalls of their partners.

   Remember that no one is perfect, and it's essential to have realistic expectations while considering these qualities. Relationships require effort, compromise, and ongoing communication to thrive. Trust your instincts, take your time to get to know someone, and prioritize open and honest communication as you search for a life partner. Recognizing qualities that are significant and meaningful to you can help in determining whether your partner is the right person to be by your side for life’s journey. Relationships are a two-way street, so it’s crucial that you can also offer similar valuable traits and not expect your partner to do all the hard work.

  If your partner doesn’t have all the attributes you’d like, it doesn’t mean you have to break up: different (but complementary) traits can be key to success.