To build healthy relationships, respect between partners is even more important than their communication, because, without the first, the second is simply impossible.
Mature love is not available to everyone. Much of this is due to our misconceptions about the signs of such love. We are used to believing that true love is associated exclusively with romance, great deeds, as well as strong and passionate feelings that make a person do things that he could not even think of before.
We believe that true love is always accompanied by a whole set of views and values, that it makes a person want to spend every second of his time with his significant other, jealous and afraid that a single mistake can lead to the loss of the object of his passion. But this is where we go wrong, mistaking passion and infatuation for love.
First of all, true love is not a thing. If she were, then her opposite — false love — would also be a thing.
True love does not exist because love either exists or it does not exist at all. It is either love or infatuation, a sense of ownership, consolation of one’s ego, or any other type of unhealthy relationship that has nothing to do with trust, respect, and sincere generosity.
However, there is a noticeable difference between mature and immature love. The following are signs that your love is mature:
1. You can discuss anything and anyone.
It can be difficult for a person to communicate on certain topics. In relationships, conversation topics can cover a variety of things: what pisses off your colleague, jealousy of the previous partner of a loved one, who will wash things this week, why are you afraid of dying alone, why your partner did not warn about his lateness, why you don’t like his new hairstyle, etc. But all this talk is superficial.
The ability to calmly talk to another person about the cause of your irritation, whether it is due to your relationship or something else, is a real gift. It goes far beyond just wanting to say whatever is on your mind.
It’s about a sense of acceptance and security, personal maturity (talking about your concerns), and couple maturity (being able to listen to each other). All of this takes skill and practice, but it really matters.
2. You always respect each other’s needs.
Mature love provides not only a joint pastime but also the opportunity for each of the partners to retire.
The desire to retire is a natural human need. Time spent alone with yourself – simple solitude in silence or engaging in your favorite hobby – contributes to self-development.
Partners in healthy, mature relationships use the opportunity to be alone to develop as individuals. So they manage to get bored, and then meet again, becoming better and learning to truly appreciate each other’s company.
If partners learn to respect the need for privacy without demanding constant attention, then they can be sure that their love is mature.
3. You respect each other’s need for privacy.
As with privacy, personal space is also essential for a person.
Of course, a mature couple can discuss anything and anyone, but this does not mean that partners should constantly be aware of each other’s affairs. Each of them takes time to comprehend everything, and everyone decides for himself what to share with his loved one, and what is better to keep with himself.
People need a certain degree of privacy, and this extends to both things and personal issues.
When partners respect each other’s need for space, their relationship grows stronger because they share everything voluntarily, which makes a huge difference.
4. You respect each other’s need for dating outside of a relationship.
Having friends outside of a relationship does not mean that something is wrong with the relationship. No relationship, no matter how good and mature they are, can fully satisfy a person’s need for communication.
People are social creatures, and they cannot satisfy all their needs by communicating exclusively with one person. Therefore, our relationships with family members, colleagues, friends, and loved ones are completely different in nature: they are different relationships with different people. And they all have their own dynamics.
There is nothing unhealthy in the fact that each of the partners has friends, as well as in their ability to go out with them, share experiences and return home refreshed and have something to tell their loved one.
5. You deeply respect each other.
To build healthy relationships, respect between partners is even more important than their communication, because, without the first, the second is simply impossible.
Mutual respect requires patience and understanding in a relationship. When there is respect, none of the partners is afraid of the reaction of the loved one to the emergence of difficulties, dilemmas, or difficult problems. And without respect, there can be no talk of maturity or love.
6. You have achieved that calmness that is possible only in the case of absolute trust.
There is no mature love without trust.
Jealousy is an integral part of human life, but if you let it get the best of you, then it will turn into your weakness.
By practicing respect and openness, you build trust with each other. Knowing that you can always share your problems with your partner, you have no doubts.
Your mind is in a state that is possible only with complete trust: you are overwhelmed with peace, tranquility, and a sense of security available only to a mature relationship. And this is really wonderful.
7. You focus on meeting your partner’s needs, not your own.
The reason partners respect each other’s needs for privacy, privacy, and friendship outside of a relationship is because they are confident that they will always return to their loved ones.
They know their time together is sacred. But they also know that if they stop caring about relationships, they will wither and die. And the goal of any relationship is to first satisfy the needs of a loved one, not your own. The real meaning of mature love is precisely to give, not take.
However, the maturity of the relationship fails to protect against life’s hardships. Conflicts or difficult times may arise sooner or later, and mature love here lies in how partners will deal with the problems that arise. It’s about dialogue and mutual respect.
If you think your love is mature, congratulations. But if not, do not worry, because gradually, with the effort, you can achieve an excellent result.
5. You deeply respect each other.
To build healthy relationships, respect between partners is even more important than their communication, because, without the first, the second is simply impossible.
Mutual respect requires patience and understanding in a relationship. When there is respect, none of the partners is afraid of the reaction of the loved one to the emergence of difficulties, dilemmas, or difficult problems. And without respect, there can be no talk of maturity or love.
6. You have achieved that calmness that is possible only in the case of absolute trust.
There is no mature love without trust.
Jealousy is an integral part of human life, but if you let it get the best of you, then it will turn into your weakness.
By practicing respect and openness, you build trust with each other. Knowing that you can always share your problems with your partner, you have no doubts.
Your mind is in a state that is possible only with complete trust: you are overwhelmed with peace, tranquility, and a sense of security available only to a mature relationship. And this is really wonderful.
7. You focus on meeting your partner’s needs, not your own.
The reason partners respect each other’s needs for privacy, privacy, and friendship outside of a relationship is because they are confident that they will always return to their loved ones.
They know their time together is sacred. But they also know that if they stop caring about relationships, they will wither and die. And the goal of any relationship is to first satisfy the needs of a loved one, not your own. The real meaning of mature love is precisely to give, not take.
However, the maturity of the relationship fails to protect against life’s hardships. Conflicts or difficult times may arise sooner or later, and mature love here lies in how partners will deal with the problems that arise. It’s about dialogue and mutual respect.
If you think your love is mature, congratulations. But if not, do not worry, because gradually, with the effort, you can achieve an excellent result.
