Right time to take your Relationship to the next level.....

So, you've been going out for over a year with your girlfriend and feel its the right time to take the relationship to the next level.

You may claim to know her at the best as well as worst behaviour and accept her for who she is. Great, but that's not all that it takes to make relationships work. Find out a few things you should look at before taking the ultimate step

Dealing with secrets

As and when you get married, your partner will be the protector of all your secrets. It is important to know that you can open up to her and talk even about embarrassing things that you did as a child or negative qualities that you're trying to break.Dealing with secrets is delicate.  The person who unwittingly carries a secret can suffer as a result. You should also get a measure that she will be as willing to share her secrets once she has committed to you. Without openness, there can be no trust and without trust, there is no relationship.

Dealing with friends

This big change in your daily life to not have that friend as a part of it. Cry, scream into a pillow, shout, hit the pillow, play the music at its loudest possible. Do whatever it takes to get the sadness, rage, anger, disappointment etc. out of your system. Let it out so that you can move on from these destructive feelings and so that you can cease to harbor negativity that you will continue to carry if you do not release it.

Most women become too possessive about their guys. While guys appreciate a certain amount of jealousy, it can quickly begin to irritate if she doesn't even allow you to go for an occasional night out with your guy friends to catch a drink. Most women give out signals about their level of possessiveness in very subtle ways. You need to accommodate yourself to the signs to know more about her level of possessiveness. Unfortunately, this topic can quickly turn ugly if you discuss it with her so prudence is advised if you're going down this road.

Dealing with family

This is the most important part of the puzzle. Unless she knows and respects your family, you will never know how they will react to each other. If you're sure about her, take her to your parents and assess how their meeting goes. Take down mental notes and ask both parties about their first impressions. If there are misunderstandings, clear then. If there are problem areas, find solutions. Crossing this leap is more than half the battle won.

It's a romantic to assume you can push through the stress and irritation at the Thanksgiving dinner table to suddenly become close with a family member you can't stand. If it happens, you're lucky, but it's unlikely. Be kind, respectful, and cordial, but don't force yourself to spend extended periods with someone you dislike just because you "feel like you should." Be assertive enough to excuse yourself from awkward conversations, and choose to spend your time with family members you enjoy instead. In the end, you'll have a happier, healthier, stress-free holiday with family.

Dealing with conflict

How often do you engage in lover's tiff? If you answer with "more than once a week", you need to reconsider your stand. Once you marry your partner, you do not want small issues to take into the limelight in your domestic battles. Your partner should be able to bring out the best in you and should stand behind you even in the most difficult of times. However, if this seems to be an exception rather than a norm and she always prioritises herself and her needs over yours, know that things will only get worse from here on. Have a frank chat and mutually decide on how you will avoid conflict when it arises.

Dealing with your feelings

The best test of knowing whether your girlfriend should become your partner will come from within yourself. It would be pragmatic, however, not to confuse feelings of lust or a desperation to get married, with signs that she is the one. You cannot hurry into taking one of the most important decisions of your life based on the wrong feeling. When you feel confident about your decision, the small voice within you will automatically assume control to bring magic to your life. Enjoy the rush.

If she is really the one for you, you'll just know. After all, you cannot miss those strong signals your heart would be sending you in such a scenario.