Love has become a difficult concept in today’s society. Of course, love has never been easy, we have made it difficult in an entirely different way today.

 Social media, television, and the internet has changed dating as it should’ve been. Nearly every single aspect of our lives are romanticized and we are always trying to show off what we have, and others don’t; love being a huge one. On Instagram, you’ll see hundreds of posts of people with their loved ones bragging about how ‘in love’ they are. However, it always seems to go away in about a month. That’s because most of the love we have today is not real love. It’s fake love made for the public to see.

Everyone settles in relationships today, so much that we don’t even realize when we are doing it. Settling in a relationship is toxic for both you and your partner. It’s always a ticking time bomb waiting to hurt the both of you. TV and the internet make us want love so bad that everyone feels like it’s a race to find your soulmate. Everybody thinks they’re in love, yet 50% of all marriages end in divorce. It’s a huge problem.

It’s not like two people just sit down and agree to settle with each other, it just happens. We are all dating in cycles, one person to the next just for companionship. Love isn’t just having a companion. When you really meet the one for you, you’ll know. When you are subconsciously settling for some, you should know that too. If you have to convince yourself of the feelings you have for the other person, there is a huge chance that you’re settling. Sometimes we can even become confused by the other person and settle. Humans today can be easily manipulated, especially when it comes to relationships.

One of the biggest indicators that you are settling for someone is when your relationship with yourself begins to change for the worse, to better the relationship with the other person. You have to be honest and own what is yours and what’s not. If you own what is yours, you’re probably settling. However, all relationships have problems and if you both care and love each other you’ll work on them.

Here are 6 of the biggest indicators you are settling in your relationship: 

• Your relationship doesn’t make you feel safe (emotionally or physically).

• The person you are with Continually tries to change/control you. Remember: This will only grow as time goes on. 

• If he/she assassinates your character or constantly puts you down. 

• If he/she Hides you from the world. Doesn’t introduce you to his/her friends or family. 

• Doesn’t support you, your story, or your dreams.

• Destroys personal relationships. Won’t let you do things with the people in your life that you care about.