You have difficulty communicating on a deeper level
A relationship that only floats on the surface can create problems in the long run. If you can’t talk about deeper issues such as feelings, you run the risk of ending up in conflict or unnecessary misunderstandings. Open communication is very important for the relationship to work. If you feel that you don’t talk about deeper topics and that your boyfriend isn’t very interested in doing so either, then he might not be the right one.
He doesn’t like your friends and family (and vice versa)
No, not everyone gets along with everyone all the time. But if he repeatedly knocks down or complains about your loved ones, who you know are good people anyway, you should think about what his purpose in doing so is. He may not be doing it on purpose, but it’s not uncommon to be manipulated by your partner into distancing himself from others in your life and thus relying on him a lot more. If you ask him about it, he’ll probably assure you that this isn’t the case, but here it’s important to trust your gut instinct. If your mum, sister or friends question his behaviour, they don’t have to be right, but at least consider whether there’s really something in what they’re saying.
You feel you can’t trust him
If you don’t trust your partner and feel that he exudes an energy that doesn’t feel open, straightforward and honest, and you feel that you can’t talk openly about things in the relationship, it might be time to pull on your running shoes and run.
You have different goals in life
We all have different aspirations in life and even though you have different ambitions now and everything is flowing, it doesn’t mean that this can cause problems later on in the relationship. Goals and ambitions take time to achieve, but when they come knocking, even a relationship can start to falter badly.
He doesn’t trust you
Jealousy is a common feature of many relationships, but it doesn’t have to mean it’s either okay or justified. Sure, we can all find ourselves in situations where we question our partner’s behaviour, and sometimes it’s perfectly reasonable to do so. But if he’s constantly keeping tabs on what you’re doing and who you’re with, or interrogating you about what happened every minute of the party he didn’t attend, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to go along with it. Trust is an important piece of the puzzle in a healthy relationship, and if it doesn’t exist at all between you, it’s time to think about why.
