What Is the Definition of a Committed Relationship?

Commitment is not a one-way street. A relationship is doomed to fail if only one person is committed. Both parties involved should share the same goals and they need to have mutual agreements on the most important aspects of the relationship. You and your partner should be on the same page but if you haven't had "the talk" yet, how do you know that you are indeed in a committed relationship?

Here are some of the most common signs of a committed relationship:

1.) Exclusivity

This may raise an argument but I believe that when you both stopped dating other people and decide to be exclusive, that's when you know that you both are ready to take the relationship to the next level. While exclusivity cannot be considered as the sole definition of a committed relationship, it somehow seals the deal. Any relationship that does not involve fidelity or loyalty appears to be nothing but vague and hollow.

It's rather difficult to establish exclusivity because nobody really wants to bring this up in a conversation especially if you have been only dating for a few months. Being exclusive with someone goes unspoken sometimes. The most important thing is that you and your partner want the same thing and that is to be together.

2.) Long-term Plans

Establishing future plans with your partner is another obvious sign of a serious relationship. After all you wouldn't make plans with somebody that you know won't stick around for a little while. The more serious the relationship is the more you will think about your future together. When you tell each other your dreams it means that you have connected deeply. People who are seeing each other casually will never talk about the future and they focus more on their short-term goals.

3.) Passwords

Giving a person your email, phone and Facebook password is a big deal and if you reach this stage, it means you two are fully committed to each other. When someone gives you their password it means two things: they are not fooling around and they trust you enough. If your partner still has plans of hooking up with somebody else there is no way that they are going to freely give you their passwords. A couple who is in a serious relationship does not hide anything from each other. Being committed to a person means not giving them any reason to doubt your intentions. If you want to reach this stage then I would not suggest blatantly asking your partner for his passwords and make out like you need them so you can start trusting him. Successful relationships do not operate like that.

4.) You spend a night in each others' places

This is considered to be another obvious definition of a committed relationship. You can't get enough of each other and now you started to spend nights in his apartment and vice-versa. You leave your razor in his bathroom and he is completely OK with it. He even gives you a room in his closet and you keep a box of his favorite cereal in your pantry. If you start spending a night in each others' places it simply means that you are marking your territory.

5.) You both understand unspoken expectations

This is when you do things for each other without having to elaborate anymore. You are attending your cousin's wedding and your man knows he has to be there without feeling obligated. When a couple reaches this stage, they tend to feel more secure and they realize that they do things not just to please their partner but mostly out of love.