4 Ways Being The 'Clingy' One In Your Relationship Will Work In Your Favor

You're in a relationship, and it doesn't matter whether it's a month or a year old. You message throughout the day, get jealous the moment you see your girlfriend or boyfriend talking to someone else and constantly try to get his or her attention.

Guess what? Congratulations, you are the clingy and needy partner in the relationship. But, don't fret. Embrace your clingy side and, chances are, your partner will, too. Here is why being clingy is actually good for your relationship:

1. You text constantly.

Find yourself sending cute texts throughout the day? You may feel like you're over-texting your partner, but don't feel bad about initiating conversation. Talking is important in a relationship.

If you feel you may be texting him or her a bit too much, talk it out. Communication is key.

2. You show signs of jealousy.

Jealousy is one of those conflicting emotions. It's good to have these flashes of jealousy because they indicate interest in and passion for your SO. If you aren't jealous of the fact that your girlfriend or boyfriend is chatting with that hottie, it might be a sign you should be figuring out what's going on between the two of you.

Although some might argue jealousy is bad and an indicator of one's insecurity, I beg to differ. When I see my girl is a bit jealous, I step up my game and reassure her that no matter what, at the end of the night, I'm coming home to her.

I assure her she's always on my mind. No one can replace that.

3. You accommodate and compromise.

In one of my relationships, my friends used to tease me by saying I was "whipped." I typically was more accommodating and flexible.

When you're clingy and needy, you'll set aside your needs and focus on the other person's. FYI, there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, that's what a relationship is about. It's about compromising and finding the middle ground between the two of you.

The key thing to remember is to not lose yourself in the process. The next time you compromise and accommodate your SO, ask yourself, "If I'm willing to do this, is he or she willing to do it for me?" If that's the case, I say, "Bend away."

4. There are no rules.

I use to wonder if there was an ideal time frame that determined when a couple became exclusive. It turns out there isn't.

There isn't a formula that tells you this. It's all about trust. When my current girlfriend and I started dating, I found myself trying to figure out when the perfect time was to do everything, from the first kiss (which she initiated) to our first night together.

Earlier, I believed in rules. But with her, it was natural. We went with the flow, passion and trust. When you're clingy or needy, your friends may think you're rushing into the relationship. But sometimes, relationships just happen that quickly.

Sometimes, you're caught off guard. Bam: You're talking hours on end. You're suddenly missing and craving the other person. You're not needy. You, my friend, are in love and happy.

Needy and clingy partners have always gotten a bad rep. It probably doesn't help that Hollywood tends to portray them as cray-cray. But, don't believe that stereotype.

It's easy to think you might be bombarding your SO or coming across as clingy, but don't doubt yourself. Chances are, if you're feeling the desire to text or be close to your SO, he or she is probably feeling the same way.

Being clingy isn't a bad thing. If anything, it's possibly the greatest sign that you and your SO still have that flame and passion. You have something real.

The day you lose interest in him or her or don't care about who he or she is talking to, it's a red light. Being clingy is the way to go.