When looking for the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, it’s incredibly important to know exactly what you are looking for.
Like Personal Growth on Facebook
That being said, it’s also incredibly important for you to keep an open mind!
Keeping a list of “must-have” personality traits that you hope your life partner embodies can help you in your search. Just be sure not to keep the process too generic or black and white, to avoid pushing away someone who might actually be the one.
Just use this list of things you hope to find in a life partner as a guide in your search for Mr. or Mrs. Right, and be sure to leave plenty of room in your heart for that special someone to find a permanent home with you!
1. An Open Heart
The perfect significant other will have an open heart, ready and willing to love you fully.
But they won’t only have an open heart for you; there will also be plenty of room for others close to both of you, too.
They will be the type of person that gives their time, attention and love to others such as their family members, pets, and even the less fortunate people of the world.
Look for a partner with a big heart that has no boundaries.
2. An Open Mind
A life partner is one who you can trust to have an open mind when it comes to, well, everything.
Who knows what the future holds, so having someone who is fine expecting the unexpected will really help.
Their open mind should be not only for what lies ahead for your relationship, but also an open mind when it comes to where you live, who you are friends with, and if your ideas or political views differ.
A lot of this comes down to respect. If your partner respects every group, idea, and possibility that life has, they are an open-minded keeper.
3. An Understanding Of Life’s Ups And Downs
Knowing that life can be a rollercoaster of ups and downs and all arounds is key for your own sanity.
Having a partner that understands these ups and downs that life can hold is just as important.
This doesn’t mean your potential life partner must come with baggage so they know what pain feels like.
This just means that they shouldn’t be oblivious to the fact that things might not always go your way.
This way they will be more mentally prepared for any trial or tribulation that arises throughout your life together.
4. Future Goals (Or An Idea Of What’s To Come)
Nobody is going to have life completely figured out and planned out right now.
It doesn’t matter how old you or your potential partner are, life throws too many curveballs to have all the answers at any given moment.
That being said, it’s imperative that you and your potential life partner both have some sort of future goals or, at the very least, an idea of what you want out of life.
These goals should be individual, but should definitely have room for each other in them.
5. The Ability To Forgive
Understanding and forgiveness go hand in hand. Finding a potential life partner who either has forgiven or at least has the capability to forgive is so important.
Ask them about their past and how they felt in situations where they were hurt or hurt others.
See what their views on forgiveness are, and check if they match your ideas and morals.
Forgiveness can be tough, so having a partner who has that understanding and openness to forgive will be invaluable.
If you are still working on forgiveness yourself, it’s important that you have an open dialogue about it with your potential partner so you can both understand where you are coming from.
6. An Acceptance Of Others’ Flaws
Nobody is perfect, as they say. That means your partner won’t be perfect, and that also means you won’t be perfect!
Well, not in every way at least. As you would be accepting of your partner’s so-called flaws, you should try to find a partner who would similarly be accepting of your own.
If you anger easily but soon calm down and become rational enough to talk through a situation, you will want a partner who is accepting of this side of you.
See how they react to others who have so-called flaws.
Ask what their thought process is to really understand what they’re thinking to assess where they will be later down the road with you and those around you.
7. Open Communication
While communication is definitely key in any relationship, it is even more important in a relationship that you plan to be in forever. Having any hiccups in communication now can possibly spell trouble down the road.
Take note of any time you felt you or your partner weren’t communicating effectively.
Run these moments by a trusted friend or a therapist to get an outsider’s point of view on the situation.
Perhaps both you and your partner could do with amending your communication skills in different ways, to help a better flow of communication for years to come.
8. A Good Balance Of Maturity
A spouse or life partner that is mature sounds like a given, right?
But here’s the thing: you will probably want to find someone who has a great balance of being mature in the right areas while still being a kid at heart.
Being mature emotionally will be the first thing you will want to check for.
A partner who can get in touch with their feelings and is okay with you getting in touch with yours will help you both grow individually and together. Being financially mature is also a plus.
Even if they don’t have a full savings account, just knowing the importance of saving for your future is practical and helpful.
9. Physical Attraction
You don’t need to hold out for the most handsome or beautiful person to come your way to know that you have found “the one.”
Physical attraction is not solely about outward beauty.
You can be physically attracted to someone because of their mind, humor, or the whole package.
Try to not rush into a serious relationship too quickly based on just a having a few things in common and having a superficial attraction.
Find a deeper, more meaningful attraction both physically and emotionally.
10. Comfortable, Unrelenting, Reliable Love
Love can mean so many things.
If you find yourself in a committed, deep relationship with someone you hope to spend the rest of your life with, you will want to ensure you are both fully in love.
Notice the little, quiet moments between the two of you, and see if you are at your most comfortable.
If you are both feeling completely content and utterly head over heels, you may have found the perfect match!
