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There is often a lot of attention paid to red flags in relationships. The average person will want to avoid someone with one or more red flags as much as possible. Green flags, or positive features or assets, on the other hand, often receive much less attention.
Of course, it’s always good to be aware of potential red flags in a new relationship, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore green flags, or the early signs that a new relationship is going well. Apart from the warm feelings of love you get in the initial phase of a relationship, the green flags can also show whether your relationship has long-term potential.
Are you wondering what the green flags in relationships are? What should you pay attention to if you want to know whether the relationship has a future ? Reason for us to take a closer look at the green flags and come up with seven examples.
What are green flags?
While a red flag refers to an early sign of an unhealthy relationship or a potentially problematic partner, a green flag is a behavioral trait or personal trait that indicates that the person you are with is likely to approach relationships in a healthy and mature manner.
The terms ‘green flag’ and ‘red flag’ simply come from the idea that green means passage, while red means stop; something that everyone will recognize from the traffic lights. Red flags call attention to problems; green flags indicate that you can proceed safely. Knowing early what to look for in relationships can therefore be extremely important to help you avoid unpleasant situations.
At the same time, it is just as important for people to be able to recognize what healthy relationships look like. This way you can target people who exhibit these healthy traits from the start. This significantly increases the chance of success of the relationship.
Green flags can serve as signposts of sorts to help you determine whether or not you are interested in getting to know a person better. The more green flags you can identify, the greater the chance that your dating partner or relationship partner will still be suitable for you in the long term.
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7 green flags for a relationship
So we’re going to talk about some specific green flags in relationships. Although the exact wishes and preferences depend on everyone, we can say that there are a number of general characteristics that symbolize a green flag. Seven examples that many people can relate to are:
1. Eye contact
Being bad at eye contact doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doomed to a bad love life, but at any stage of the relationship, making eye contact is important to let someone know that you’re interested in someone and care about what he or she says or feels.
When two people maintain eye contact, it can also help break through the nerves and facilitate the connection because they are focused on each other instead of being distracted by other environmental factors. Gradually reducing eye contact because the relationship gets into a rut essentially means nothing other than that there is less interest in the relationship. In the most extreme case, there is more attention for the environment or the telephone than for the partner in the relationship.
2. Good listener
Pay attention if your partner really makes an effort to hear and understand you. If they ask thoughtful questions, make space for you in the conversation, and want to get to know your inner you, these are all big green flags. After all, active listening is a necessity for relationships to last in the long term.
It is inevitable that couples will disagree from time to time and unintentionally hurt each other. Being a good listener and making an effort to understand your partner’s perspective is the key to healthy conflict resolution . So if a date shows early on that you are a good listener, do your best to approach it in the same way.
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3. Openness about feelings
Being able to open up about feelings and even get emotional is another green flag in a potential romantic partner. After all, a healthy relationship requires two people who can recognize their own emotions, where they come from, and know what they need at any given moment, and who are then able to share those emotions and needs with a partner. Someone who can easily tap into their emotions and talk about them often also shows important relationship skills.
4. High degree of self-awareness
Likewise, it is a green flag if a person shows overall self-awareness, including being aware of their emotions, behavior, hopes, dreams, fears, and patterns, as well as how their actions can affect others. Someone who spends time reflecting on their experiences and trying to understand themselves better is more likely to be mindful about how they behave in relationships.
This person is more likely to be able to identify problems in the relationship if they arise. Self-awareness also means that they will be able to recognize and admit when they are the ones contributing heavily to the problems.
5. Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and relate to another person’s emotions, or even share them at random moments. A good partner can recognize not only their own emotions, but also yours. They can be sad when you are sad or they can at least understand when and why you are experiencing sadness and show compassion. These types of people can identify relatively easily how a person might react emotionally to a given situation. The result is that action is taken in a way to prevent as much damage as possible.
ALSO READ: 60 Signs of a Harmful Relationship
6. Stable personality
It’s also a green flag if the person you want to date is someone who is relatively stable in terms of personality. In that case, you can trust that he or she will be consistent in his or her approach in different situations. The opposite, for example, is an unpredictable character and you do not know how your partner will behave from moment to moment.
In other words, you want to know where you stand with your partner. Rollercoaster romance may make for very entertaining movies, but in real life, comfort and balance are what allow love to blossom.
7. Everyone has his own life
In a healthy relationship, partners are not breathing down each other’s necks every time. Couples who distrust each other and impose restrictions risk becoming too dependent on each other, which will put a strain on their relationship. Therefore, it is definitely a green flag if your partner supports your personal growth, hobbies, and friendships outside of your relationship. Ideally, you will be given space to nurture the other pursuits in your life and receive support as you pursue your personal goals and pleasures.
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