When you have been dating for a little while and things seem to be going quite smoothly, it is normal to wonder whether you are doing the right thing for the long term. Is he the right man, you ask yourself. While the answer to this question is generally discovered over a period of time and can often be answered from your heart, there are several things that you need to observe to help you decipher this problem.

Have you noticed how each person tends to be on better than normal behavior when a relationship is new and they are “scoping out” each other? This is only to be expected as is human nature, but it underlines why we should never jump into a situation until we have had time to really analyze each other’s foibles. It is important to see how each behaves over long periods of time.

If you ever catch yourself asking is he the right man, think back whether you have noticed any behaviors during the early stages of the relationship. If you have, and they are subconsciously worrying you, then this may be the sign of a behavioral imbalances. Don’t read too much into the odd case of disagreement and even argument, however you ought to be able to get a good overall picture of the situation.

If and when a conflict arises, pay particular attention to how your guy handles the situation. Does he dig in and defend his position at all costs? Understand that arguments and conflicts should be worked out mutually and not left to fester. If you find that he withdraws and doesn’t want to discuss it and this happens quite often, this is potentially a bad sign.

Each party to a relationship must value the other’s opinions, feelings and happiness. This is essential when viewed from an overall perspective. As there is no ideal world, this would not happen all the time, so don’t worry. However — is he the right man for you? Your answer here will tell you the story.

It takes a lot to make a relationship work, but there are some fundamentals that you must observe, or you will surely face difficulties. Does your man show consideration for you by showing up on time, or by letting you know if plans change or by giving you notice if he is delayed. There can be nothing worse than sitting at a restaurant table waiting and wondering whether you have been stood up!

Before you make a commitment of any kind and seek to answer the question — is he the right man — remember that you should never overlook bad patterns of behavior, even if you really want to. Normally, the answer to your question will come from within you as these instincts are generally correct.

Always be sure that you have a fairly lengthy courtship before deciding to move to a more fundamental relationship. In this way, over a period of time any potential problems will come to the fore allowing you to make a much easier decision down the road.