Isabella Chase
When starting a new relationship, it’s easy to get swept up in emotions and excitement.
However, sometimes your intuition picks up on things that your conscious mind might overlook.
Relationships are anything but straightforward; the human heart is a labyrinth and sometimes we need to trust our gut to guide us through it.
These gut feelings can be your inner wisdom trying to guide you, so ignoring them could lead to unexpected challenges down the road.
Here are eight gut feelings you should never ignore at the start of a relationship:
1) Unsettling doubt
You know that nagging feeling of doubt that just won’t go away?
Yeah, that one.
It’s easy to dismiss it as just nerves or anxiety—especially when everything else seems perfect—but, trust me, it’s not something you should ignore.
This unsettling doubt is your intuition telling you that something is off; maybe they’re not as into you as you thought, or perhaps they’re not being completely honest about their feelings or intentions.
Listen to your gut because it might be trying to protect you from a heartbreak waiting to happen.
Your intuition is a powerful tool—don’t underestimate it.
2) Feeling like you’re forcing it
Have you ever felt like you’re pushing a boulder uphill? That’s how it felt in one of my past relationships.
I was doing everything I could to make it work: Planning dates, initiating conversations, even changing parts of myself to fit what I thought my partner wanted.
But, no matter how hard I tried, something just didn’t feel right.
In the end, I realized that a relationship should be about two people meeting halfway, not one person doing all the heavy lifting.
3) Friends and family don’t like them
We often overlook the opinions of our loved ones when we’re smitten. But did you know that people close to us can often see things we can’t?
An article published by the University of California-Davis found that a romantic couple’s relationship status is influenced and affected significantly by the level of support the couple perceives from family and friends.
This is because they can see beyond the romantic haze and spot red flags that we might miss.
If your friends or family have reservations about your new love interest, don’t dismiss their concerns lightly—they just might be seeing something you’re not.
4) Constantly making excuses for them
We all want to see the best in the people we care about, but there’s a fine line between being understanding and becoming an excuse factory.
Finding yourself constantly having to justify their actions or behavior to yourself or others is a red flag.
Sure, nobody’s perfect, but if you’re always making excuses for them, it might be a sign that you’re trying to convince yourself of something that isn’t true.
5) Not excited to see them
I remember a time when I’d get butterflies in my stomach at the mere thought of seeing my partner.
The anticipation of our dates was thrilling and I couldn’t wait to spend time together.
However, if you’re not feeling that excitement, or worse, if you’re feeling dread or indifference at the thought of seeing them, that’s a sign.
Relationships should add happiness and excitement to your life, not drain it.
6) Everything seems perfect
This might be surprising, but an alarm bell should ring if everything seems too perfect.
Real relationships aren’t fairytales because most of them have their fair share of ups and downs, disagreements and compromise.
If your relationship seems flawless, it could be that you or your partner are avoiding conflict or hiding parts of yourselves to maintain this illusion of perfection.
Remember, authenticity is key in a lasting relationship.
A partnership that’s too perfect to be true might just be exactly that—too perfect to be true.
7) The feeling of losing yourself
Falling in love can be so intoxicating that it’s easy to lose yourself in the process.
Sacrificing your own needs, goals, or identity to fit into the relationship—that seriously has to stop.
A healthy relationship should enhance your life, not require you to give up who you are.
If your gut is telling you that you’re losing yourself, listen to it.
Don’t give up your entire being for the sake of a love that you feel wouldn’t last an entire lifetime.
8) Feeling unhappy
At the end of the day, relationships are meant to enhance your life, bringing joy, support, and fulfillment.
If a relationship consistently leaves you feeling unhappy or unsettled, that’s one of the most critical gut feelings to acknowledge.
Happiness is a cornerstone of healthy relationships.
Compromising your happiness for the sake of maintaining a connection can lead to resentment, emotional exhaustion, and a loss of self-worth.
Reflect on your feelings, trust your instincts, and consider what truly serves your well-being.
Trust your gut
If you’ve gotten this far, I hope you now understand the power of intuition in relationships.
Your gut feelings are your subconscious communicating, shaped by past experiences and instincts.
In relationships, these instincts can guide you towards happiness or warn you of potential harm.
So, when starting a relationship, pause and listen to that inner voice; trust your gut—it might be the most important conversation you’ll have.
Because at the end of the day, you deserve a relationship that brings joy, authenticity, and love into your life.
And your gut feelings? They’re just trying to get you there!
