If you’re dating because you want a serious relationship, how confident are you that you’re ready?
It’s one thing to feel ready to head out on a few dates. After all, one or two dates won’t require much in the way of preparation or commitment.
Plus, many people who are actively dating have no intention of getting into a relationship. They’re in it to socialize, have fun, or hook up.
However, we know that many of our Smart Dating Over 60 readers here, mostly middle age and up, are returning to dating because they want a serious, committed relationship.
This return to dating might have been triggered by any number of life events:
- They lost a spouse to illness or accident
- They divorced
- They’ve been single for some time but now that they’re retired, they have time to search for a partner
So, it may have been decades since they last dated. Naturally, the very act of dating is probably going to feel uncomfortable.
Another factor is the lifetime of habits, routines and behaviors that have set in. Will they be able to mold themselves to a new partner’s lifestyle when it turns serious?
Getting Ready for a Serious Relationship
These are all good reasons why a re-entry to dating is the perfect time to check relationship skills.
Your prospective partner will want someone who is prepared, not just for dating, but for a long-term partnership.
Everyone has their own requirements and definition of a “good relationship.”
Yet whatever the definition, relationship work requires a combination of self-awareness and interpersonal skills. Another term for this is “emotional intelligence.”
The relationship quiz here is a measure of emotional intelligence.
It measures how well we recognize and deal with our emotions (self-awareness and self-management.) It also measures how well we deal with social situations and relationships at home, work and play.
There are no right or wrong answers.
The purpose is to get a picture of yourself as you really are, and to understand your strengths and weaknesses. We all have some of each! So be honest when you answer.
When we become aware of our weaknesses, it becomes easier to work on them. When we know our strengths, we can use them to work on our weaker areas.
Take the quiz above to see if you’re ready to be in a serious relationship. It only takes a few minutes.
When you’re done, you’ll instantly see how you rank in four areas:
- Awareness of self
- Emotional self-control and adaptability
- Social awareness and empathy
- Relationship and conflict management, working with and inspiring others
A Note on Relationship Issues
The questions and ranking system in the quiz are based on variations of the psychological self-assessments first written about and popularized by author and psychologist Daniel Goleman in Emotional Intelligence. We have no affiliation with Dr. Goleman.
We’re not psychology professionals, so please don’t use this quiz as professional diagnosis or therapy. Our purpose here is to share ideas, experience and tools that have helped us in our own lives.
If you have ongoing problems with relationships, please go see a licensed therapist or counselor! It’s the kind of work that pays dividends for the rest of your life.
In the meantime, if you want to learn a bit about yourself and your readiness for a relationship, go back to the top of the page to start the quiz.
(Note on Privacy—Quiz results or contact info are not ever shared.)
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