Often, in relationships, there needs to be the ‘right time’ to bring up the future or bringing the relationship to the next level. Talk about it too early and you may scare your partner away, talk about it too late and that’s just it, it may be too late.

The beginning of a relationship is always the best part often referred to as ‘the honeymoon phase’. The best time to showcase your good side, the part that says “I’m the coolest partner ever”. However, every one of us has skeletons in the closet that remains hidden shut until you feel comfortable enough to reveal it.

When you get to the ‘comfortable stage’, you also start to wonder where this relationship is going. You’ll have a ton of questions that you want answers to:

Will we ever move in together?

Are we getting married?

Do they want kids?

Will we open a joint account?

As you grow within your relationship, these questions should sooner than later be answered. But how do you even begin to bring these questions up with your partner? Future talk can be daunting, especially when you have a fear that their ideas and thoughts may not be in line with yours.

We usually say the most important factor in a relationship is communication, in this, it’s both communication and compromise. Although not applicable in all circumstances, as long as you both try to communicate and try to compromise, it’s the effort that really matters. You won’t look back at the relationship and wonder what if.

Opening up the discussion without arguing is the best way to seriously talk about the future. Tell each other what you want, what you need and start coming up with ideas together so you can battle any issues. Remember that you are on the same side – it’s your relationship vs. the world.