If you’re serious about committing to your partner and can see a future with them, it’s vital to the success of your relationship that you and your partner are on the same page.
Commitment can be scary, so feeling unsure if your partner will commit isn’t unusual. However, asking them directly might not always be the easiest thing to do, so here are five signs that show your partner might not be ready to commit.
Not Future-Oriented
If you never have conversations about plans, like taking a trip in the summer or even just what you’ll do for a date next week, your partner might not be ready to commit. Avoiding any future-talk shows exactly what it sounds like — the future is not as clear to your partner as it is to you.
Not Invested In Getting to Know You
If your partner seems to miss the mark with the classic aspects of a serious relationship, like remembering birthdays and being interested in your hobbies or work, it’s a red flag that your partner is holding back and is unlikely to commit.
Doesn’t Know What They Want
Does your partner often avoid voicing their future goals or say “I don’t know” when asked? This is a clear sign that your partner is not moving towards commitment. Someone who doesn’t know what they want is essentially saying, “I don’t know if I want this,” which means commitment is not on their to-do list.
Keeps Their Distance
If you feel like your partner hasn’t opened up as much as you’d like them to or hasn’t included you in the more private parts of their life, like meeting close friends or parents, it might be a sign you should reevaluate how committed they are. Keeping their distance can show that your partner isn’t ready to accept the relationship yet fully. By not mixing you into their life, your partner is subconsciously keeping an exit strategy that will allow them to easily continue with their normal life if the relationship doesn’t work out.
Examine Your Own Feelings
If you’re worried your partner isn’t likely to commit, it’s essential to evaluate where you stand — what do you want? Are you willing to continue seeing someone who wants different things than you do? Sacrificing our needs for another person can often backfire when we’re talking about major life choices, like relationships. If you want commitment and your partner doesn’t, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate who you are dating.