Why Are We Together? 5 Signs You Are Together for the Long Haul

There are many things about relationships that don’t have a definitive “yes” or “no” to them. For instance, whether our relationships are meant for the long haul. How to tell?

Believe it or not, the likelihood of a relationship lasting for the long term relies more on simply the amount of time spent together. Rather, it’s the more subtle qualities that define the relationship. These little nuggets are signs that a relationship can really be meant for greater things.

Here are five signs that indicate this relationship is going to last for the long haul.

1. Sharing the Same Jokes

Laughing together is great. But what about sharing the same inside jokes together? For example, all we have to do is start the joke and our partner finishes it. Or, even just referencing a word in that joke, and instantly our partner knows exactly what we are talking about.

These moments help to build a connection. However, they also indicate that we are both on the same wavelength when it comes to humor. Imagine being together with someone who doesn’t click with humor and jokes. It just doesn’t work!

2. Meeting the Family and Being Okay with It

Another sign that our partner is going to last for the long haul is when they meet the family, warts and all, and are okay with it. And we’re not just talking about the parents. It’s the whole extended family. The uncle who talks way more than they should, or the nephew with the smart-aleck comebacks.

Someone who isn’t in it long-term can’t handle these situations. They are awkward, uncomfortable, and often things come up that are unexpected. Those moments require a degree of social intelligence to be successful.

3. Working Together as a Team

A casual evening out for dinner is nice. However, those types of experiences don’t really test a relationship. It’s when we have to work together as a team is when we truly see how strong our relationships are. Those experiences don’t have to be reality TV show grade drama.

Rather, they naturally arise from trips or experiences that we have through the course of the relationship. For example, that time we went hiking together, and a thunderstorm rolled in, causing us to hike back in the rain on a muddy trail. Think of when a situation that was meant to be perfect, but still goes awry. What happened?

4. Going Beyond Listening to Understanding

One common quality of a healthy relationship is when we listen to one another. However, what about understanding each other? When our partners understand us, we feel safe. Both physically and emotionally.

We know that our partner “gets” how we think. They also affirm our perspectives on the world. Naturally, not every relationship has partners who agree 100% on everything. That actually isn’t very realistic. But our partners ought to understand where we are coming from. If not, then it’s hard to imagine the relationship to be successful long term.

5. Trust is a Given

These signs lead up to one very important quality: trust. Trust is so important. Without trust, there is no chance that the relationship will last, let alone for the long term.

However, the good news is that there are so many opportunities to build trust together. Whether it’s cooking a meal with one another, having deep and meaningful conversations, or going on adventures together, we have many ways to build trust. However, if we don’t think that trust is there, we’ll know. It will be that feeling in your gut that says whether we trust our partner.

We can keep these signs in mind when considering whether our relationships will last for the long haul. However, if we’re still struggling with this issue, therapy can help. Find out today how relationship counseling will work.