The Science of Settling Down

By Mark Go

So you’re planning to pop the big question but you’re not quite sure if it’s the right time yet. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Before you go on and propose to the love of your life, make sure that you have some of these items checked of your list because it will save your marriage in the long run. Being prepared is essential to a healthy marriage. Some people act on impulse and marriages collapse within years. Don’t be that couple—read this list to see if you’re actually ready to get down on one knee and live up to those marriage vows.

8. Financial Stability

Before you decide to propose, you need to be able to support your partner—and eventually a family, if you both so choose. Also, a wedding is going to burn a deep hole in your pocket, so it’s crucial to be financially ready.

7. “If” Becomes “When”

Feeling like you’re ready to get hitched means you’re 100% committed. You’ll know you’re in this territory once your conversations turn into “if we get a dog” into “when we get one.” Once you get married, it’s a lifelong commitment and there should be no turning back. You have to know deep in your heart that this is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Commitment isn’t a word that scares you off anymore.

6. Gut Feel

Contrary to popular belief, there’s an actual science behind intuition and what most people refer to as a “gut feel.” We’re born with an innate ability to sense immediate danger (read: a fight or flight response), which usually translates to an elevated heartrate when faced with certain decisions. While there’s a distinct line between instinct and intuition, all of these factors basically boil down to one thing when deciding to pop the question: your gut feel that it’s the right time just means that your beliefs, experiences and memories along with your innate sense of right Vs. wrong have aligned. Your body is telling you that there’s no need to flee. So trust your gut.

5. You can’t imagine your future without them

If you’ve already openly talked about spending your life together and it doesn’t make you want to run for the hills, then you just have to wait for the perfect time to propose to make it all the more special.

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