After being single for any length of time, our natural reaction is to rush back into a relationship. We look at being single as a prison sentence that we can’t wait to be over! Just because you want a relationship doesn’t mean you’re ready for one though, and sometimes being single is exactly what you need. Here are five ways to tell if you’re ready for a relationship, or if you should remain single a little while longer.

You aren’t bitter. Break-ups, no matter how amicable, leave a bit of a shadow over us for a period of time following the end. It takes time to sort through your emotions and deal with the pain, and there may be days, weeks or months where you are angry and blame the opposite sex as a whole for your heartache. While this is totally normal and understandable, it’s not the best time to start a relationship. Make sure you close the door on one chapter of your life before you start up another one.

You don’t need one. Wanting and needing a relationship are two very different things. Wanting is natural…we’re wired to want to share our life with someone we love. Needing to be in a relationship is where problems begin however. If you need a relationship, it says that you aren’t ok with being on your own. Maybe you get a sense of self worth when you’re coupled up, or maybe you get anxious if you’re alone. No matter what the reason though, there is only one acceptable reason to start a relationship and that is because you absolutely love the other person. When you need a relationship, you put more weight onto the relationship than the person.

You are open. After the first few dates with someone, you start to determine if this is a person you can get serious with. If so, you have to begin to open yourself up and share your life with them, and it’s not always fun or glamorous. Being open and willing to let someone into your heart and your day to day life is risky because you’re vulnerable, but the reward far outweighs the risk. Being open to someone new and open to love means that you trust that the person you’re with will accept you for you, and want to fit themselves into your life!

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This is a guest blog written for DangerousLee.Biz.