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Woman Tired Of Seeing These Relationship Behaviors Stated As ‘Red Flags’ Explains How They’re Actually ‘Green Flags’
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Woman Tired Of Seeing These Relationship Behaviors Stated As ‘Red Flags’ Explains How They’re Actually ‘Green Flags’

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Sometimes, you just don’t know whether or not you and the person you’re dating are a good match. Trying to figure it out, we turn to our friends and tell them about what we’ve learned about our romantic interest so far. They give us advice, we question it, and turn to the Internet, hoping we’ll stumble upon an article that will give us all the answers.

However, throughout this search, we often focus on signs we feel are worrying; problematic behaviors, and tendencies that could hurt us down the line. Red flags. But TikTok user Kayla Nichole thinks they can be misleading. So in order to broaden our perspective, Kayla has released a few videos, explaining how these red flags can actually be green. Of course, every situation is different but it can be so useful to challenge your thinking and try to look at things from another point of view.

A 2018 study found that 7 in 10 Americans (69 percent) form a first impression of somebody before they even speak. It takes them only 27 seconds, according to the research.

But dating coach Hayley Quinn thinks it often pays to be slow to judge the person you’re seeing. “The people who are the best match for you may also positively surprise you,” Quinn told Bored Panda. “So be open-minded about what your type is and be forgiving of small faux pas’ at the start of dating. If someone is 5 minutes late for your first date, it may not mean they don’t respect you! Keep your expectations realistic, and don’t expect someone to live up to a standard that you can’t maintain for yourself.”

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Generally, we shouldn’t be looking for red flags going into a relationship too. It’s like asking for it to go wrong. “If you’ve been hurt in the past it can be easy to start living with a sixth sense of danger, however, relationships often do require a leap of faith,” Hayley Quinn explained.

Philosopher Slavoj Žižek would probably agree. He believes that when people fall in love, it is a violent experience. A state of emergency. Žižek points out that when you allow yourself to fall in love with someone, your life becomes largely dependant on that person. And the fear that they will mess it up can really frighten us. That’s precisely the reason, he argues, why the English and the French have this expression: to fall in love. You can’t fully commit to someone without letting go of control.

In one of his talks, the philosopher remembered a flight he was on where he was reading an airline journal and came across a text by some company, claiming that it will “enable you to find yourself in love without the fall.” But that’s like having a beer without alcohol, Žižek said. Like drinking coffee without caffeine. It’s not what it’s supposed to be.

“Remind yourself there’s a big difference between giving a reasonable degree of trust because you’re optimistic about your relationship, to being caught blindsided by someone’s behavior,” Quinn highlighted.

“When we’re first getting to know someone this can be particularly tricky, simply because we don’t know someone all that well, it leaves a lot of room to misinterpret their behaviors. Often the best policy is not to overthink about what their reasons are and just to identify whether you feel comfortable in the relationship or not.”

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@kayla.mcculWhat do you think? #healthyrelationshiptips #healthyrelationships2021 #adviceforlife #datingadvice101 #adviceforrelationships #advicefordating #dating♬ State Lines – Novo Amor

Since Kayla’s video blew up, she released a follow-up the next day

Quinn, who has given an amazing TED talk on love, sex, and dating, said that a lot of green flags aren’t immediately obvious. “As annoying as it is, it actually takes time to get to know someone new! Firstly, look out for consistency: you don’t want someone who you have a stellar date with one minute and who goes cold the next, lookout for people who keep making an effort for you over a period of time,” the dating coach advised.

“Secondly, look at your communication, does it feel easy? A simple characteristic of a relationship that’s off to a good start is that things will just flow. Finally, what’s your gut saying? You should never have to try to convince yourself to like someone, nor should you expect fireworks every date, check-in with yourself to see if you feel comfortable around them.”

As with many things in life, take your time, trust your gut, and things will fall into place sooner or later.

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@kayla.mcculReply to @kayla.mccul what’s one I missed? ##healthyrelationshiptips ##healthyrelationships2021 ##adviceforlife ##datingadvice101 ##adviceforrelationships♬ original sound – Kayla Nichole

Here’s what people said after watching the TikToks

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alchristensen avatar
Al Christensen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can be a red flag if someone is always looking for red flags.

edenblack avatar
GaeFrog
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean not really if someone wants a good and strong relationship then looking for red flags can determine if they are in one or not.

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brendanroberts avatar
Brendan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This advice seems obvious to me now, but in my first ever relationship, I got so jealous when my gf wanted to hang out her friends without me. I just couldn't understand it; I felt like she was rejecting me. That was a long time ago, and I learnt that it is healthy (even necessary) to see friends without your partner.

dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good thing you learnt, but don't tackle yourself too much for your past. That kind of jealousy is not necessarily controlling, it could be part of the general feeling of being left out of the group. Passion and attraction is not all a romantic relationship is about, there's the social component to it too. Your partner is your friend, part of your crew, it's kind of natural to feel displeasure for not being invited to hanging out together. Again, it's healthy to hang out separately, I'm just saying all this to help alleviate self-guilt, not just for you, but for anyone reading this, who have come up to the same realisation. That's all. We grow, we learn.

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shayleewilliams avatar
Shay
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can be a red flag when you're taking advice from a random Tik tok kid. When did everyone become an expert? There are reasons my girls can't use tiktok. one of them is they shouldn't be getting advice from other kids about relationships and safety. Also, weird and dangerous "hacks" that I keep seeing.

tami_6 avatar
Tami
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, and none of this advice is new, or it's advice that mom and dad have been offering but it's been ignored.

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alchristensen avatar
Al Christensen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can be a red flag if someone is always looking for red flags.

edenblack avatar
GaeFrog
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean not really if someone wants a good and strong relationship then looking for red flags can determine if they are in one or not.

Load More Replies...
brendanroberts avatar
Brendan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This advice seems obvious to me now, but in my first ever relationship, I got so jealous when my gf wanted to hang out her friends without me. I just couldn't understand it; I felt like she was rejecting me. That was a long time ago, and I learnt that it is healthy (even necessary) to see friends without your partner.

dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good thing you learnt, but don't tackle yourself too much for your past. That kind of jealousy is not necessarily controlling, it could be part of the general feeling of being left out of the group. Passion and attraction is not all a romantic relationship is about, there's the social component to it too. Your partner is your friend, part of your crew, it's kind of natural to feel displeasure for not being invited to hanging out together. Again, it's healthy to hang out separately, I'm just saying all this to help alleviate self-guilt, not just for you, but for anyone reading this, who have come up to the same realisation. That's all. We grow, we learn.

Load More Replies...
shayleewilliams avatar
Shay
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can be a red flag when you're taking advice from a random Tik tok kid. When did everyone become an expert? There are reasons my girls can't use tiktok. one of them is they shouldn't be getting advice from other kids about relationships and safety. Also, weird and dangerous "hacks" that I keep seeing.

tami_6 avatar
Tami
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, and none of this advice is new, or it's advice that mom and dad have been offering but it's been ignored.

Load More Replies...
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