If You've Experienced These 5 Stages Of Love, You've Found Your Soulmate

May 04, 2018 by apost team

Everyone wants to find their soulmate, but love is hard! Jed Diamond, experienced love and marriage counselor, has created a model that plots the timeline people go through when they fall in love. By mapping the journey, Diamond hopes to educate couples about the many ups and downs relationships take so they can best prepare for success.

Romantic relationships always begin with falling in love. These early days are coined as the honeymoon phase where emotions run high and your body is overflowing with all the feel-good hormones that give you a high.

The danger in this stage, however, is that you're likely wearing rose-colored glasses. Your partner is perfect, and you'll overlook their flaws without a second thought.

You'll easily convince yourself that you've finally found the one. You're already planning a future with them in it forever.

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Although you're still buzzing with love, you're coming back down to earth and you're finally able to see more clearly. This is when you can make adult decisions as a team. You may even move in and start a family during this stage.

Life is pretty good. Instead of ignoring their flaws, you now see them and find them charming.

Your identities blend and you become one unit. You can predict what the other is going to say and your lives are seamlessly intertwined. Maybe some of the passion has died down, but their love is always comforting.

There will always be tests in every relationship, romantic or platonic. Challenges arise and couples have to weather the storm and see if they're strong enough to survive.

Many people choose to quit.

Whether it's problems with money, family, or the relationship itself, some people may feel that this is the beginning of their end. Your partner's flaws are no longer cute. If they breathe near you, you can get irritated. You reminisce sadly about the honeymoon phase and wonder if you'll ever get to experience such joy ever again. Maybe you don't fight, but both of you can still feel the tension or shift between you.

Resentment and doubt can eat away at any love that was once thriving.

If you've survived a major problem, you've now come out stronger and more in love. This is a period for both people to reflect on their lives.

You both mature and grow together. The two of you see reality for what it is.

You see each other for who they are, flaws and all, and you still believe that they really are "the one".

Now that you are assured and thriving, you can take your power and use it for positive change that can even influence the world. Look at lots of celebrities who create their own fundraisers. Creating positive change is wonderful, but it also gives you two something to be passionate about together.

What stage have you gotten to? Compare with all of your friends!