Do soulmates exist? Is there one person out there that you’re meant to be with? Or can you make a relationship work with anyone, as long as you put enough effort into it?

With over 7.8 billion people in the world, you’re bound to be soulmates with at least one person, right? I don’t have any tangible evidence, but my belief is that…

Everyone has a few soulmates.

Whether you come into contact with them or not is a different story. It depends on your life path. If you’ve somehow gotten way off track, you may still meet people that are very compatible with you, but they may not be your soulmates.

How do you know if you’ve come into contact with a soulmate?

In my opinion, you just know. You can’t explain it.

There’s a feeling deep inside you that this person’s soul is somehow connected to yours.

You completely understand each other and appreciate each other’s imperfections.

If this person has a trait that you normally can’t stand, it probably won’t bother you.

You feel an electric pull towards soulmates, as if you must be near them at all times. You may get an actual ache in your heart when you’re not near them.

There’s a certain intensity that surrounds you both, like an electric current, and you could experience a sense of deja vu, as if you’ve met before.

This HuffPost article describes nine signs you’ve found your soulmate. There are many other articles online that discuss it as well.

Although soulmates are most often thought to be romantic in nature, they don’t have to be. It’s possible to have a really close friend that’s a soulmate.

How do you know if soulmates exist in your life?

As I mentioned, my belief is that everyone has a few soulmates. You’re lucky if you meet one of them, but it’s possible to have a few soulmates in your life.

If you happen to meet a soulmate who is already in a romantic relationship or not interested in being intimate with you, don’t think of it as a wasted opportunity. You were destined to meet each other, so figure out what you can take away from the experience.

Just because you’re soulmates, it doesn’t mean you have to end up together.

It’s possible to lock eyes with someone across a room and feel a sudden energy between you. Maybe that’s your soulmate, but it could also just be great chemistry.

Feeling immediately attracted to someone is more likely related to chemistry.

Seeing beyond the physical attributes is what a soulmate would do.

Do you ever see a couple together and wonder why they’re together? Perhaps you think one of them is much more attractive than the other. Or they seem mismatched in every way. Well maybe they’re soulmates! They find each other beautiful and perfect, so they don’t care if everyone judges them.

In this example, the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is completely accurate. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks because they’re happy together.

A soulmate will appear in your life when the time is right.

 

If you spend your life searching for your soulmate, there’s a good chance you’ll never find the right person.

You can’t force it or rush it.

If you’re open to the possibility of meeting a soulmate, it’ll happen.

Don’t be disappointed if you meet a soulmate but can’t be together. There was a reason you met, so enjoy the relationship while it lasts.

Maybe your paths will cross again in a few years or in another lifetime. Or perhaps this person was meant to push you along your journey, to help lead you to the person you ARE meant to be with forever.

If you are content with settling for someone who’s not your soulmate, that’s your choice.

However, soulmates exist if you believe in them.

You really want to start dating right now, but this pesky coronavirus ruined your plans for love.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my full disclosures here.

You broke up with your boyfriend just in time for the biggest pandemic of our generation. Not the greatest timing, huh? Who wants to be single at a time like this?

You’d rather cuddle up with a warm body than be stuck hugging your stuffed animal every night.

You think about all your coupled up friends with envy and wonder if you’ll ever date again.

Is it possible to date during the coronavirus? Yes, but you’ll have to make some major adjustments to your dating habits.

 

First, let’s talk about dating someone you have already met before.

Maybe you were in the same group of friends, or you worked together, or you were in a club/league/activity together.

Whatever the case, you’re in a perfect position to try and date now. You already know what he’s like in person, and you have a sense of his energy level and personality.

Although some people like to jump into the physical aspect of dating right away, the coronavirus will give you the chance to get to know him on a deeper level without the physical stuff getting in the way.

You can have a multitude of virtual experiences together. Be creative!

In addition to the usual methods, like FaceTime, Zoom chats, and Skype calls, you can play games on the Houseparty app, watch a Netflix movie at the same time and discuss it afterwards, or buy the same ingredients and cook a meal together.

The only downfall of dating virtually is that you don’t know if you’ll have chemistry when you do finally have a date in person.

If you flirted with each other before, then you’re definitely on the right track for a successful relationship. If you never thought of each other in a romantic way, this experience will hopefully open your eyes to new possibilities.

 

Now let’s talk about dating someone you’ve never met in person yet.

In an ideal world, meaning “pre-coronavirus,” you’d both swipe right on the dating app, have some witty banter, and then meet in person.

You could find out if this guy is a good match for you within days of swiping right. If not, you’d move on to the next one.

However, in this day and age, dating isn’t quite as simple. You can definitely try all the suggestions I mentioned above, and it’ll be a wonderful way to get to know each other on an emotional and intellectual level.

 

What about getting physical?

Here’s where it gets tricky. You can put off meeting in person for as long as possible, but it’s risky.

You need that physical proximity to decide if this person is right for you.

Believe it or not, your sense of smell kicks into overdrive and sends a message to your brain. Your brain will tell you if you have compatibility or not.

You might have great chemistry over the phone, but you need to discover if you have in-person chemistry as well.

 

Everyone has different levels of comfort with COVID-19.

If you’re afraid to meet anyone in person right now, that’s understandable. You just need to be upfront with the person you’re trying to date.

He may be fine with a virtual relationship for now. Be aware that you might be wasting your time, though.

All those hours you spend talking virtually may be for nothing if you do finally meet in person and feel no chemistry.

You have a slight leg up if you already knew each other before. There’s still a chance that you won’t be compatible when you take your relationship to the next level, but you at least have an idea of what he’s like in person.

 

If you’re a cautious dater…

This means you’re taking precautions but still wanting to meet in person.

I’d suggest taking it slow at first. Get to know each other virtually for at least the first three dates, and then you can make that leap to in-person dating if you both feel comfortable with it.

You can both wear a mask and keep your distance, so you’ll feel safe while picking up on each other’s energy.

It’s up to you if you want to kiss or touch at all, as long as you are honest about where you’ve been and if you may have been exposed to the virus.

 

It’s possible to date safely during the coronavirus, but both people have to be on board.

Some people refuse to leave their homes right now, and then there are others at the opposite extreme.

If you fall into the category of going back to “normal” living, please do so at your own risk.

It has been a few months since the pandemic started, but it’s not going away anytime soon. I recently read an article entitled “America is done with COVID-19. COVID-19 isn’t done with America.” That sums it up pretty well.

You can go ahead and date like you used to, and you’ll probably find others who will happily jump at the chance to date you, too. Just be mindful of others and sympathetic to those you may be putting at risk.

 

In the dating world, the coronavirus is comparable to the worst possible STD.

Getting an STD has always been something to worry about. Now, just standing near someone can give you this terrible virus.

That puts a damper on dating!

Holding hands, which is normally a sweet and romantic gesture in the beginning stages of dating, is now considered taboo. You don’t know what your date has touched lately, so you don’t want that hand touching you!

Kissing is a natural step of dating to assess your feelings for each other, but that’s basically out of the question these days as well.

So what do I think about all of this? Are you screwed? Are you destined to shrivel up and live a lonely existence? No!

There is still hope for all of us. Dating is possible, but you have to make some changes for the time being.

This pandemic will eventually end. Probably not next month, but hopefully sometime next year.

Use this time as an opportunity to get to know yourself fully and figure out what you’re looking for in a partner. Make a list of your relationship requirements. You will find your ideal mate if you have a clear vision of him.

Cheating is so common in today’s culture. Lots of people do it for a variety of reasons, so should you tell your partner if you cheated?

Some data shows that over 50% of married people cheat at least once.

Close to 70% of people would have an affair if they knew they’d never get caught.

What do you do if you get yourself into this situation? The obvious response is to NOT CHEAT in the first place, but what if you can’t help it? You could argue that everyone can “help it,” but every experience is unique.

If you did cheat on your partner, you can’t take that back. What’s done is done. You may feel lots of guilt or regret, and you want to tell your partner in order to relieve yourself of this guilt. But…

You should absolutely not tell your partner if you cheated.

What good can come from telling your partner? He/she will be angry and heartbroken and possibly want to leave you. If you decide to stay together, he/she will be suspicious of all your actions for a very long time, if not forever.

This Bustle article agrees with me. Some experts advise you to always be honest in a relationship, but many will say to keep your mouth shut when it comes to cheating.

I’ve known many people who cheated on their partners. For some, it was a one-night stand. For others, they were in love with this other person and didn’t know what to do. I had a friend who cheated on his girlfriend and purposely got caught so she’d break up with him. Instead of owning up to the fact that he didn’t like her anymore, he ended the relationship by cheating.

If you’re tempted to cheat, it’s probably a sign that you shouldn’t be in your current relationship anymore.

I realize it’s a lot more complicated if you’re married, so I urge you to seek coaching or therapy if you’re strongly considering having an affair.

Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link. For more information, see my full disclosures here.

There are many books that can help you if you have cheated or are contemplating cheating on your partner. This book is a good one to read, and there are plenty of other options, too.

You may think cheating is a fun, risky game you play to test your limits.

Will you get caught? How many times can you get away with it?

If your partner catches you in the act, you obviously can’t deny it. However, if your partner is suspicious of your actions and notices your odd behavior, that’s when you need to assess your real motivation behind your actions.

What’s bringing you to cheat?

What’s going on in your relationship that’s pushing you away? Do you feel like choosing to be with this person means you’re settling?

As I mentioned, I don’t think you should tell your partner you’re cheating, but it’s a good time to analyze your relationship dynamics and aim for improvement.

Relationship requirements are qualities that absolutely must be present in order for your relationship to work. They are non-negotiable, so if any quality is missing, you would have to eventually end the relationship.

A relationship requirement is the opposite of a deal breaker.

Telling your date what you DO want, not what you don’t, is a better way of sharing your needs. It’s important for you to be very clear of your relationship requirements so you don’t waste time with the wrong person. No matter how much you love each other, a relationship will fall apart if you don’t agree on a requirement.

Here are some common relationship requirements:

Wanting Kids

A typical relationship requirement is whether you want kids or not. Be sure to have this discussion early on in dating. Yes, it’s possible for people to change their minds, but you shouldn’t assume that your partner will want them just because you do. Having a heart-to-heart about your deepest wishes and feelings related to children is helpful for the growth of your relationship. You can learn a lot about each other and assess how strongly you both feel on this matter.

Fidelity

Another big one is fidelity. How important is it for you? And what constitutes cheating? You may decide that any form of infidelity will not be tolerated, or perhaps you’ll allow some drunken kissing now and then. There’s also emotional cheating, which some people think is completely innocent and others feel is grounds for divorce. You could decide to have an open marriage with a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy or an open marriage where you tell each other everything. Before discussing this with your partner, make sure you decide what you’re comfortable with yourself first.

Sex and Intimacy

Along with fidelity, sex is often a relationship requirement. Do you talk openly about sexual issues? Do you have similar sexual desire? Sex, or lack of it, is a big part of a relationship. What you do behind closed doors is up to both of you, so make sure you’re in agreement with how sex plays a part in your lives.

Financial Responsibility

Money is another quality that can make or break a relationship. It’s the most common reason for divorce, so discussing your financial situation upfront can help you be more open about other topics. How do you handle financial matters? Do you like to invest, save for a vacation, or spend everything right away? If you have lots of debt, how will you pay it off? If you decide that you want to be together long-term, planning for your financial future can decrease conflicts about money later on.

Some other common relationship requirements:

Passionate	Healthy Mind/Body/Spirit
Chemistry	Open Communication
Honesty	Shared Sense of Humor
Tolerance	Emotional Intimacy
Respect	Shared Religious Beliefs
Teamwork	Time Spent Together
Intelligence	Similar Life Visions
Education	Family-Oriented
Commitment	Positive Energy
Support	Addiction-Free
Independence	Animals/Pets

 

You may relate to all or none of the above. This is a sample list of requirements to get you started. You can also check out this Psychology Today article that talks about what your relationship needs to thrive.

After making your personal list, go through each requirement one by one. If you can come up with an exception, a way to stay and make the relationship work without having the requirement met, then it is not a requirement. It is most likely very important to you, but it’s not a non-negotiable quality.

Try to bring your list of relationship requirements down to six or seven items.

Now, when you’re dating someone new, you can discover if this person is a good match for you by seeing if he/she meets your requirements. Or, if you’ve been dating someone for a while and haven’t discussed your relationship requirements, now is the perfect time to confide in each other!

Take this quiz to discover if you are ready for a relationship!

To assess your readiness for a committed relationship, rate yourself in each of the following ten areas. Try to be objective and honest with yourself. We recommend asking close friends and family members for their opinions as well.

​Rating Scale: Rate each item on a scale from 0-10, with 10 being a top score.

RATING	ASSESSMENT	DESCRIPTION
8-10	Good	This area of my life is strong and would be an asset to my next relationship.
5-7	Okay	This area needs work, but would most likely not sabotage my next relationship.
0-4	Needs Work	This area could interfere with the success of my next relationship.

ITEM	ASSESSMENT CRITERIA	RATING
1	I know what I want. I have a clear vision for my life and relationship. I can envision my perfect life in detail that feels strong, real, and keeps me motivated.
2	I know my requirements. I have a written list of at least ten non-negotiable requirements that I use for screening potential partners. I am clear that if any are missing, a relationship will not work for me.
3	I am happy and successful being single. I enjoy my life, my work, my family, my friends, and my own company. I am living the life that I want, and I am not seeking a relationship out of desperation and need.
4	I am ready and available for a commitment. I have no emotional or legal baggage from a previous relationship. My schedule, commitments, and lifestyle allow my availability to build a new relationship.
5	I am satisfied with my work or career. My work is fulfilling, supports my lifestyle, and does not interfere with my availability for a new relationship.
6	I am healthy in mind, body, and spirit. My physical, mental, or emotional health does not interfere with having the life and relationship that I want. I am reasonably happy and feel good.
7	My financial and legal business is handled. I have no financial or legal issues that would interfere with having the life and relationship that I want.
8	My family relationships are functional. My relationship with my children, ex-partner/spouse, siblings, parents, and extended family do not interfere with having the life and relationship that I want.
9	I have effective dating skills. I initiate contact with people I want to meet, and disengage from people who are not a match.
10	I have effective relationship skills. I understand relationships, can maintain closeness and intimacy, communicate authentically and assertively, negotiate differences positively, allow myself to trust and be vulnerable, and can give and receive love without emotional barriers.
	TOTAL SCORE

TOTAL	ASSESSMENT	DESCRIPTION
80-100	Green Light	You are well on your way to the life and relationship you really want.
50-79	Yellow Light	Continue to work on the areas needed, and take it slow in relationships while doing so.
0-49	Red Light	Take a break from seeking a partner, focus on your life, and prepare for the relationship that you want.

Once you take this quiz and decide if you’re ready to move forward with a relationship, the next step is to make a list of your relationship requirements. This will put you on a clear path, and you’ll have a better understanding of what to look for in a partner.

Do you know what your love language is?

Gary Chapman wrote a book called The 5 Love Languages, and his book improved countless relationships. He explains that there are five ways people communicate love, and one of these “languages” will communicate love more effectively than the others.

It is common for you to try to communicate love the way you understand it and prefer to receive it, but your partner may have a different idea of love. You can learn which expressions are most important to your partner, and those are the ones you should focus on.

Here are the Five Love Languages:

Words of Affirmation

Words have the power to build up or undermine your partner. They can be words of appreciation, encouragement, affirmation, and kindness. Saying “I love you,” giving compliments, and having deep discussions are all examples of words of affirmation. If your partner lights up from your powerful words, it may be the most important love language for you to give.

Gifts

These are visual symbols of love. It’s the easiest love language to learn, and giving presents is a way of investing in your relationship. It can be inexpensive but have a high value. Making a gift can be very meaningful to your partner. Don’t wait for special occasions to give them, and discover what your partner likes. Bringing home weekly flowers could be what your partner loves most.

Physical Touch

Touch is a powerful communicator of love, and it speaks louder than words for some. It can take many forms – holding hands, an arm around a shoulder or waist, a kiss, a hug, a brush of the body as you pass, a massage, foreplay, and sex. Physical affection is not always connected to sex, so if this is your partner’s love language, you should learn ways to give non-sexual touch.

Quality Time

Couples can spend much time together without feeling connected, so proper quality time involves focused attention. Togetherness is not only about physical proximity. In fact, you can have quality time with your partner on the phone or Skype if you live in different cities. If quality time is your #1 love language, communication and companionship are necessary for the relationship.

Acts of Service

This involves serving someone by meeting their needs in practical ways. If your partner feels that “actions speak louder than words,” you’d be improving the relationship if you start to do acts of service around the house. It could be as simple as taking out the trash or washing the dishes. It may be requested, but should not be demanded or taken for granted.

 

These are the five love languages. I encourage you to read his book if you want more information.

If you’re not sure which love language resonates with you, you can take this quiz to guide you in the right direction. Once you figure out which way you prefer to receive love, make sure you tell your partner!