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2. Emotional openness

A truly loving relationship is not based on sharing a home, a bed or a bathroom. It is based on sharing feelings. That’s why we look for emotional openness. If a
partner can’t identify and share feelings, they’re not mature or ready to be in an intimate relationship.

3. Integrity

A partner who won’t hide parts of his life or personality. Who will only tell you what you want to hear to protect himself. Who will tell the truth without you
having to force it out of him.

4. Maturity and responsibility

There are people who just aren’t ready to be in a committed relationship. They may be loveable, they may love you very much, but if they havn’t reached a
certain level of maturity, you’ll feel like you’ve adopted a child rather than found a lover. Being responsible means he or she can take care of himself domestically,
healthily, mentally and financially. Responsibility means not letting people down. As we become more responsible, we become more respectful. Look for
maturity in a person in how respectful he is of :-

• Your feelings
• Your time
• Your boundaries
• Your possessions
• His possessions

5. High self esteem

One of the biggest mistakes we make in choosing partners is focusing on how much our mate loves and treats us, NOT how they treat themselves. When a person
is so giving and loving, appears so devoted, we may neglect they have no self-esteem. We may overlook that they are afraid to make a move without us, are
constantly self-critical, seemingly incapable of independent thought, mental state and mood. A person with low self-esteem loves in order to feel better about
himself/herself. A person with high self-esteem loves BECAUSE he/she feels good about themselves.

The healthier your partners sense of self-esteem, the stronger the relationship will be. If our mate walks around apologising for his or her life, seems embarrassed
by who he or she is, is always putting themselves or their lives down, they have no pride in themselves.
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