Signs He's Getting Serious About Your Relationship

Wondering if your man is getting serious about your relationship? Wouldn't it be nice to know if you're both on the same page about your budding and blooming connection with one another?

The good news is that when it comes to figuring out whether or not your relationship could be the real deal, there are 12 clear-cut signs that let you know if your man's in it for the long haul — or if he's going to haul out real soon.

One of the major signs that your man is getting serious about your relationship is that he's initiated conversations about your future as a couple. For instance, whether he's subtly (or not so subtly) talked about going on a trip together, celebrating far-off holidays and events with one another, or even imagined what it will be like when you're married someday, a tell-tale sign that he's serious about where things are heading is that he's making an effort to include you in his future plans.

The fact that he's open and forthright regarding his desire to initiate long-term plans with you is actually an indicator of just how serious he is. In fact, many men try to put off, or avoid, conversations about where the relationship is going due to lack of interest, a fear of commitment, or uncertain feelings about, well — you. However, when your man is openly and eagerly discussing what lies ahead for both of you, and is excited about what the future will bring, rest assured that your man is serious about you and your relationship.

Another sign that he's clearly serious about your relationship is that he wants you to meet his family — specifically, his parents. In fact, a survey by Monarch Airlines of 2,000 men and women revealed that the number one indicator that your relationship is serious is that you've met your partner's parents. By making the introduction, he's not only hoping to reveal a more intimate and lesser-known side of himself, but he's also stating to his parents as well as to you that your relationship has become serious enough for you to meet the other important people in his life.

While being invited to meet his parents is good news on all fronts, there are some key ways to nail that first impression. For instance: bringing a gift, dressing appropriately, offering to help in any way that you can, being fully present by putting away your phone, and saying "please" and "thank you." When you choose to be your best self, you're setting yourself up to make the best impression possible in every sense.

One of the top signs that a man is serious about your relationship is his willingness to be completely open and honest with you. When he shares his true feelings and desires with you, is forthright about his past, and takes the opportunity to confide in you about personal topics and issues, he's actually showing you just how seriously he takes your relationship.

After all, honesty is one of the cornerstones of a deep, meaningful, and long-lasting relationship. If he's making an effort to put himself out there and is willing to be totally vulnerable around you, he's hoping to build an emotional connection and strengthen the bond that the two of you share. So the next time he opens up about his fears, hopes, and dreams, be confident that your relationship is incredibly important to him.

One of the tell-tale signs that your guy is getting serious about your relationship is his desire to make you happy whenever possible. For instance, when he takes the time to surprise you with gifts, does favors for you, and wants to help you in any way that he can, he's actually encouraging you to see just how serious he is about building your connection.

When he makes your happiness a priority, he's really showing you with both his words and his actions that he's got your well-being, and the well-being of your relationship, at the front of his mind. When your partner goes out of his way to practice random acts of kindness, it's important that you recognize that these acts are anything but random, as they provide the perfect opportunity to let you know just how much he cares. In fact, when a man is truly serious about his relationship, making his partner happy is actually what makes him happy in return.

If you're wondering if your man is becoming serious about your relationship, one of the key indicators is that he fully listens to you. After all, listening to your partner is a fundamental component of a happy and healthy relationship. If he places precedence on understanding, empathizing, and responding to what you say in a helpful, meaningful, and supportive way, he's truly placing a major priority on your relationship overall.

In fact, when he chooses to be present in the moment with you — rather than being distracted by his phone, the television, or any other interruptions — he's clearly showing you that what you say is extremely important to him and that you play a central role in his life. When he can recall minute details and specifics of things that you said to him, or he brings up topics that you happened to mention in passing, he's further demonstrating to you just how significant your words are to him — and, just how important he thinks you and your relationship are as well.

A sure indicator that your man is getting serious about your relationship is directly related to the way that he treats you. Ladies, it's all about respect. But what does respect actually look like? While it can be hard to define, some of the clear-cut signs that your guy truly respects you, are that he actively listens to you, values your opinion, is thankful for the ways in which you enrich his life, speaks to you in a compassionate way, fights fair, and acknowledges when he's wrong.

If your man constantly puts you down, treats you like an afterthought, refuses to compromise, acts in a controlling way, or doesn't see you as an equal, he's definitely not respecting you, nor is he serious about your relationship. When it comes to respect, it's time to channel your inner Aretha Franklin and find a man who's truly worthy of your time, your attention, and your heart.

Another possible indicator that your guy is getting serious about your relationship is that he wants to incorporate you into his digital world in different ways. Dr. Peggy Wexler, a research psychologist, wrote for Huffington Post that "Letting a boyfriend or girlfriend scroll through your phone or have access to your key passwords has become something of a relationship milestone. It implies trust and may symbolize intimacy and connection as well." That said, she explains that privacy and personal boundaries are important in relationships. She wrote, "It's important to remember that a person's request for privacy doesn't mean he's up to no good. Similarly, putting your significant other on your shortlist of those with access to your info does not necessarily mean you have intimacy or connection."

He may also choose to incorporate you into his social media presence in a variety of ways, such as friending you on Facebook (or even announcing your status as a couple), following you on Twitter, or posting pictures of the two of you on Instagram. Further, he may simply place you in the top spot on his favorites list on his phone, or create a shared calendar for your upcoming events. Whatever the case may be, these seemingly small actions are actually huge indicators that he's fully interested, invested, and serious about a future with you — both digitally and IRL.

Speaking of literally and figuratively "letting you in", a sign that he's getting serious about your relationship is that he gives you a key to his place. Not only is this a key indicator (pun intended!) that he fully trusts you and can depend on you, but it represents just how much he sees you as a part of his life in the long-term.

In fact, giving you a key symbolizes that he's not only opening his home to you, but his heart as well. And it's not only clear that he wants you around whenever possible, this simple gesture also shows that he's extremely comfortable around you and at ease with you in his private and personal space — even when he's not there. When a man gives you a key to his place, he's serious about opening new doors when it comes to your relationship in every sense of the word.

Another unmistakable sign that your man is serious about your relationship is his desire to be with you whenever possible. In fact, he'll go out of his way to create more opportunities to hang out together. Even if he's swamped with work, has outside obligations, or is being pulled in multiple directions, he will still make spending time with you a top priority.

Along these lines, not only will he seek you out to join him in the activities and events that are important to him, but he's also interested in learning about and engaging in the things that are meaningful to you as well. Whether your time together involves sitting on the couch binge-watching a show, or heading out for a crazy night on the town, being together is simply better than being apart.

A tell-tale sign that he's in it to win it, is that he not only wants you to meet his friends, but he wants to meet yours as well. By getting to know each other's crews, this can enable the two of you to bond in new ways since you're welcoming each other into your separate worlds. The mere act of introducing you to his friends enables him to see how you fit in and handle yourself around his squad — and, whether this could become a regular occurrence in the future.

When he introduces you to his gang, it's because he's hoping to incorporate you into the different aspects of his life in a significant way. And by having you get to know his friends, and by getting to know yours, too, he can see just how well you truly fit together as a long-term couple.

Wondering if your man is serious about your relationship? Check your medicine cabinet. Whether it's a toothbrush, phone charger, or complete change of clothes, leaving even the smallest things at your place can actually be a big step toward increasing your connection and intimacy with one another.

This action signifies that he not only trusts you and wants to integrate himself into your life in a personal way, but that he wants to be a steady presence in it. With this simple gesture, he's showing you that he's fully interested and committed to moving your relationship to the point where there's a clear sense of stability and reliability. When he leaves things behind, he's not going anywhere soon.

Those three little words may mean more than you think. In fact, research has revealed that men are more likely to say "I love you" first in a romantic relationship, as noted in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. However, when he says he loves you, it's important to understand this loaded phrase in a greater context. After all, some men have been known to say "I love you" simply as a way to appease a woman, fill an awkward silence, or even to get her into bed with him.

So if you're trying to determine if he really does love you, it's important to take a closer look at his behaviors in addition to what he says to you. After all, 82 percent of men and women feel that actions truly speak louder than words when it comes to developing a serious relationship. With this in mind, you should look at the ways in which he shows that he loves you — without even saying it at all. This includes supporting you emotionally, truly listening you, being by your side, and making you a top priority. When his words and his actions scream "I love you", he's all in — and truly serious about your relationship.

It's clear that there are many different signs to look for, in order to determine if your man is getting serious about your relationship: introducing you to his parents, giving you a key to his place, and initiating conversations about your future as a couple. And speaking of the future, when you're on the path toward having a serious relationship, it's important for you to stay confident and positive about what you have with your man.

In fact, having negative expectations about your relationship or thinking that it'll never become anything serious, can actually become a self-fulfilling prophecy, as your pessimistic outlook can directly impact your future actions and behaviors. But lucky for you, on the flip side, staying hopeful and optimistic about your relationship's potential allows you to fully embrace all of the many benefits of having a serious relationship with a man you seriously adore!