The blissful honeymoon/probationary stage is coming to an end and this is a point where many decide whether to continue on or pull away. If you are a man from the moment you met this woman she has been dispensing a cycle of tests and if you pass you may continue, if you fail well……”you’re a great guy and will make someone happy but….”
Once the realization of this may be serious sets in both genders can get hit with the “we need to talk/ you’re a great guy/girl but its better we remain friends or the patented slow fade out. However if that doesn’t occur and things are still going smoothly and passionate – Congrats you have made it to the second stage.
You may now be wearing a label of exclusivity / Facebook official and those photos together can now be plastered all over social media. This may be one of the most vital moments in the relationship so far, because this is when people become comfortable and take off their mask and reveal their true character. Have you ever caught yourself saying they changed……He/She was so great in the beginning I mean texting all the time, the phone calls, the gifts, the surprises, the time spent together, the kindness, the constant displays of affection, the respect they had for the relationship. However the person you fell in lust/love/limerance with is an illusion that only exists in your mind, reality is in stage two you are seeing their true form.
As I’ve stated previously everyone is on their best behavior in stage one, everyone appears to be normal and a great catch. Exes and emotional baggage lay dormant, confrontations and fights don’t exist, all those guys/girls they are talking to are hidden beneath the surface. While there are great genuine people out there, there are many individuals that lack the emotional maturity to maintain a serious relationship and are carrying a heft load amount of baggage. This is why stage two is a danger zone so to speak if you are dating the wrong person because more than likely you’ve gotten so caught up in stage one that you’re in such a fog that you start to give leeway, benefit of the doubt, may compromise your dignity and tend not to look at the issues/red flags right in front of you. You may discuss with your friends, post on relationship forums try to rationalize thinking they will change, you may even love them and feel strongly for them and know deep inside they are not right for you – you may take the steps to sever the relationship or continue on holding out hope the choice is yours (EJECT EJECT).
Back on the happy scale – however, if you do happen to come across a genuine person, the issues are small, the dedication and the love is there built on a stable foundation and you both feel this is “right” – Congratulations as stage three now awaits!