Are you just another girlfriend, or are you the one?
I totally understand if this is one of those questions that keep you up at night. In a way, it’s one of nature’s grand mysteries.
Men can fall head-over-heels in love with a girl, and yet not stick around because they just don’t see a future with them.
Stories like this are heartbreaking, for sure.
And for the person who put everything in their relationship only to be left behind, it’s also a colossal waste of time.
That’s why, if you’ve been dating for a while now, it might be a good idea to examine your guy’s intentions.
Figure out if he thinks you’re his life partner by looking out for these 11 subtle behaviors.
1) He gives you the keys to his apartment
It’s not that you’re crashing there a lot—you have your own apartment—but he gave you your own set of keys anyway.
Take it as a sign: he sees you as his life partner.
It’s more than a symbol of trust, it’s basically him saying “It’s no longer just MY apartment, it’s OURS.”
And that’s because he doesn’t see you as someone he’s going out on dates with for the h*ck of it, but as someone he can build a home and a life with.
2) He lets you hold his wallet
When you’re out and you have to pay for something, he hands you his wallet and lets you handle the cash or use the credit card.
To him, this just makes sense because, well…you’re already his life partner!
Sharing your finances is something that’s bound to happen anyway.
And perhaps more importantly, he also talks to you about financial matters!
Money can be an awkward topic, even for married couples… but it’s undeniable that it’s something that couples need to be open with each other about.
So, the fact that he gives you access to his finances just means he’s envisioning a future with you in it.
3) You are the keeper of his secrets
And only you!
He’s not usually an open book, but he is with you because you’re special.
Knowing the most intimate things about him shows that he’s let you into his life completely, and there’s a big chance that he thinks you’re the one.
Sharing a life with someone will obviously mean sharing all the good stuff and the bad —so, he might as well share his deepest and darkest secrets with you now.
4) He makes jokes about you getting married
When you start ranting, he’ll pinch your nose, kiss you, and say, “I think you’ll be an annoying wife… but I’ll marry you anyway!”
You may think “Eh sure, but it’s just a joke.”
But ask yourself: would you be comfortable making these jokes with him, if deep down you DIDN’T think they’re the one?
I wouldn’t. That would be a kinda b*tchy move.
And actually, he’s probably doing this to gauge your reaction.
If you say “Pfff. I don’t ever want to get married,” then at least he’d have an idea of where he stands with you.
But if you respond with something like, “I’d like to annoy you until death do us part,” he can take it as a sign that to you, he’s also the one.
5) Most of his plans start with a “we”
Making joint plans is a big part of becoming a couple.
So, of course it makes sense that a lot of his plans involve you too, and vice-versa.
But if he sees you as his life-partner, it almost becomes a given that you are included in his plans, like it needs no discussion or explanation whatsoever.
“We’re seeing a movie this weekend.”
“We’re saving up to go to Barcelona.”
“We’re talking about buying a house”
When he says “we,” he means you and him.
And to other people in his life, they don’t even need to ask. They know he means you because you’re the person he plans the future with.
6) He constantly asks about your friends and family
“So, did your mother call?”
“How did your brother’s date go?”
“I heard there’s a typhoon in your hometown. Have your parents prepared for it?”
You’re clearly no longer just another date, you’re not even just a girlfriend… you’ve now become a life partner (as far as he’s concerned, anyway) whose connections and relationships he’s also invested in.
His care and love for you surpasses just you!
It’s led him to genuinely care about the people and things that you love.
Why?
Because he sees you as a life partner, he can’t help but love what you love, too.
7) He befriends the people closest to you
He knows you’d be happy to hang out with him AND your friends, or with him AND your family… so, he tries his best to have a relationship with them.
And it’s obvious that he’s putting in the effort to form a genuine friendship with your loved ones.
What’s his motive?
Well, it’s gotta be you.
You’re the one, so he knows he’ll be seeing a lot of your family and friends in his lifetime. So, he might as well get along with them. Or better yet, let them grow to be his loved ones, too.
8) He “consults” you before making big decisions
He doesn’t make big decisions without telling you about them beforehand.
He’d ask for your opinion, and really listen to what you have to say.
For you, it’s one of those things that just happened in your relationship. You didn’t demand it, but for him, you have a “right” to know and weigh in on his decisions, especially when it comes to the big ones.
After all, he doesn’t consider himself a lonesome bachelor anymore.
He’s found you— his life partner—and it just makes sense that you decide on important things together.
9) He gets hurt when you don’t consider him in your decision-making
If a man truly sees you as his life partner, he’d want the opportunity to step up and act like a real partner.
That means he wants some reciprocity in your relationship—that you can also do for him the things that he does for you.
If he shares everything with you and “consults” you before making major decisions, he likely expects you to do the same thing.
After all, a commitment involves trusting another person with the big things in one’s life.
10) He shares your burden
You’re ill? He rushes to your side to care for you…even if he has deadlines to beat!
You’re broke? He offers to loan you money, without you having to ask.
He considers you his life partner—that means he’s accepted that he should be there in good times and bad.
And what’s great about him is that he never makes you feel like you’re a burden!
To him, it’s just how life partners should be.
Someone who doesn’t consider you their life partner would most likely slowly fade away from your life in those moments that are no longer convenient for them.
It makes sense, because they don’t see you in their life long-term anyway. So, why put up with YOUR troubles?
But if a guy sticks it out and shares your burden, then it’s probably because he intends to stick around for a long, long time.
11) He motivates you to become the best version of yourself
This one is a no-brainer: you want your life partner to be happy.
Yes, because you love them, but also because sharing a life with someone means sharing in their happiness and their misery.
If they’re unhappy, it would also make you unhappy, and vice versa.
So, if your guy encourages you to pursue your passions, try out new sports or hobbies, or take the risk of switching careers (if you’re unhappy with your current job), then chances are that he truly sees you as his life partner.
Sure, a man who’s simply attracted to you would still care for you, but not as deeply as the one who truly sees you as the one.
So… does he sometimes annoy you to work on your goals?
Does he annoy you to eat healthier?
Is he capable of telling you harsh truths when you need it, so you can work on yourself?
It sounds like a lot to ask, but the person who sees you as the one considers your dreams, goals, and well-being.
He knows that the best version of yourself is one where you’re happy and you get to define success on your own terms, and he will try to help you get there.
Final thoughts
If you realized that your partner exhibits a lot of the behaviors on this list, then good for you!
You’ve found a true life partner, indeed.
Tell them how lucky you are to have them. More than that, show them that you consider them as your life partner, too.
