Five signs you shouldn’t be in a serious relationship

Being in a relationship has its advantages such as having that one person whom you can be completely weird with without judgement. However, the older we get, it seems that everyone expects us to find The One, so much so that we end up dating even when we’re not ready for such a big commitment.

Below are some signs that you shouldn’t be getting into a serious relationship.

1. You’ve never been single

If you’ve been in one relationship after the other without giving yourself a break in between, you have denied yourself the chance to get to know who you really are. Many people who serial date tend to live their lives according to the preferences of the person they are dating, i.e. in terms of how they dress, what they eat, activities they take part in, etc. Never being on your own denies you the opportunity to know who you are separate from your relationships. 

Serial dating is also a sign that you’re afraid of being alone making you dependent on a relationship to validate you.

2. You don’t know what you want in life

Whether it’s in terms of your career, your passions and hobbies, it’s paramount to know what you’re working towards. These answers can only come from you and not from a relationship. Once you’ve narrowed down what’s important to you, you’ll be able to look for a partner who compliments your life choices rather than depending on a partner to tell you what you should want in life.

3. You’ve cheated in all your previous relationships

People cheat for different reasons. Nevertheless, if you have cheated in all your previous relationships, it could be a sign that you’re dating the wrong people or for the wrong reasons. This can happen if you fail to take the time to get to know prospective partners before actually committing to the relationship or you don’t know what you want in a partner and relationship.

4. You have a lot of unresolved issues

Past relationships are bound to leave a mark, good or bad. However, when the bad is left unchecked, it can carry itself into your new relationships, affecting them negatively.  Before you decide to get into a serious relationship, ensure that you’ve resolved all your past issues. Where possible, contact your exes and get closure. Ensure that you avoid carrying forward any baggage from your past into your future.

5. You don’t know how to be happy when you’re single

One thing I came to learn when I suddenly found myself single after a long relationship, is that it is absolutely possible to be happy when you’re single. This is the best time to get to know yourself better, take better care of yourself and learn to enjoy your own company. However, when you fail to find joy in yourself, you will end up looking for it in a relationship and if you don’t find it with one partner you’ll end up looking elsewhere. Before getting into a serious relationship, learn to find your own happiness which you can then bring to your new relationship.