No matter how long you and your partner have been together, people's perspectives are constantly shifting. If you know your bae is someone you'd be happy with long-term, it's probably a good policy to keep the lines of communication open when it comes to questions to ask your partner about the future. Rather than just assume you know what they're thinking or feeling about the your life together, you can ensure that you're both on the same page. Talking about how both your dreams and ambitions change is crucial to making sure you still fit into each other's lives a couple years down the road.
Dr. Gary Brown, a prominent marriage counselor in Los Angeles, previously told Elite Daily it's important to have these deep conversations. "You and your partner are getting ready to potentially spend the rest of your lives together. It certainly makes a great deal of sense to gain some deeper understanding of who you are and who they are before taking the next step,” said Dr. Brown. Gaining that understanding will help you know if their vision for their future is one you want to be a part of, and whether or not you're on the same (or at least similar) pages. Below, more important questions to ask your partner about what they envision for your future together.
A great place to start your conversation about the future is by asking your partner what they see in the short-term, Diana Dorell, intuitive dating coach and author of The Dating Mirror: Trust Again, Love Again, previously told Elite Daily. “Ask this in a light way and it will give you insight into the type of lifestyle and goals the person has,” Dorell suggested. “If you see yourself on the same page with what they're sharing, that is a good sign,” she said.
Career plans often play a big part in how someone sees their future. They can dictate both where and how someone lives, considering things like scheduling, long hours, travel, and relocation. Having an idea of what your partner's long term-goals for their career look like can help you make sure they don't conflict with your own ambitions or life plans.
When you picture your future with your SO, does it involve marriage? Does your partner feel the same way? If you and your partner are planning a future together, that's a very important question to answer, said Dr. Brown. “You want to know if they are enthusiastic about the idea of marriage to begin with,” Dr. Brown said. “If the idea of marriage is something that clearly appeals to them, the two of you may be on the right track,” he explained.
Another really important topic that you’ll want to discuss with your partner is whether or not they envision having a family someday, Connell Barrett, Dating Transformation founder and executive dating coach, previously told Elite Daily. “Having children together is one of those big life things that we have to have in alignment with another person, or else there is going to be long-term life problems," he said. "Better to find out sooner rather than six months in when you’re in love and you find out you want totally different things in terms of family."
These may seem like intimidating questions, but if you're serious about sharing a future together, having a clear idea of what might look like is super important. Don't be afraid to ask those hard-hitting questions, so you can make sure you're both on the same page moving forward.
