Relationships. A word that evokes mixed emotions. For some, it has the capacity to be a source of comfort and strength. For others, it might spell uncertainty especially if they cannot anticipate whether the ship is headed towards a storm, or to its ultimate wreckage.
If we ponder over relationships that involve romance, gone are the days where we simply clicked on the button ‘It’s Complicated’ on social media platforms. Today, finding love has actually become far more complicated than that. Dating - especially online dating - is a whole new rage, and true to that word, there is a lot of rage and frustration in finding a date/partner.
Recently at a social gathering with friends, I was a part of not one, but multiple conversations where friends and acquaintances were expressing how difficult it has become to find love or date somebody - be it finding a lifetime partner on a matrimonial site, a liaison on a dating app or even seeking an alliance through friends/mutual contacts.
In order to flag off a romantic relationship, it is necessary to understand and identify your deal breakers. This will help you colour code and spot the hidden hues in your relationship. Let us understand the different flags involved in a relationship.
Green Flag: It isn’t as simple as seeing things in black and white anymore, the world is much more complicated and so are human beings. This flag indicates that all is well in the relationship zone! Everything that you are looking for in a relationship has been met, and you can foresee it growing further into a healthy and long-lasting one.
White Flag: It means you’ve nailed the trust aspect in the relationship. It indicates that your partner has let their guard down and opened up to you. This could be through acts of love or comfort, making small changes and compromises to make your partner feel comfortable.
Red Flag: Everything about this screams danger. In other words, consider shrieking to a halt in the relationship. It is the ultimate deal breaker, but also not so easy to recognise. Red Flags and the manipulative behaviour that goes with it can often be confused with love and passion. If not identified at the right time, it can turn your relationship into a toxic one.
Beige Flag: This indicates a lull phase, one that is more so relevant with the digital dating trend. It walks the thin line between deal breakers and positive indicators in a relationship. It may hardly be noticeable, but subtle signs here can make or break a relationship. For instance, a partner chewing loudly, or the way they treat waiters. Basically, a beige flag is decoded as someone who is boring and lacks originality that could hint at their incompatibility with you.
Pink Flag: This pops up right before the red flag. It gives you a gentle warning about the relationship going downhill from hereon. It could mean incompatibility, or something that isn’t right between the couple, and gives you the sign to tread the road ahead on alert mode.
Orange Flag: We’re plunging into the negotiation zone. It indicates scenarios which test both you and your partner’s will to negotiate. The good thing is, it’s not a deal breaker like the red flag. It’s often to do with control-related matters. As long as your partner is emotionally available to you, you’re in the orange villa!
Yellow Flag: It may not pose as a big problem on the surface, but a yellow flag may be the cause of annoyance or frustration down the line. It indicates a lack of common interests between two people in a relationship. It can be dealt with, depending on how you and your partner want to handle it. Else, the flag’s colour may slowly turn to orange or worse, red.
No matter what hue your relationship flag might carry, stay mindful not to be overly rigid. Then, my friend, you’ve hit the sweet spot in a relationship.