After dating another person for a while, you might find that your goals are different. If this is the case, you may wonder if you should stay with him or her. So, what do you do in this instance? How do you know when it is time to part ways? Though the answers to these questions may be different for everyone, here are a few suggestions.
1. See if your goals will align down the road.
Sometimes, your dreams and goals are ones that can end up in the same place in the end. There may be times where you and your partner have different goals at the moment, but the end goals may be the same, so analyze whether this difference in goals is temporary.
2. See if your life goals are the same.
You may have goals like going to school and finishing your degree that impact your relationship at the moment but won’t forever. However, if your life goals are different, the two of you may not click. For instance, if you want children and the other person doesn’t, that may be a gamechanger. Therefore, separate your life goals from your other goals and see if the two of you are on the same page when it comes to what you want out of your lives.
3. See if there is a way to compromise.
Maybe, it is the timing of your goals that is causing the issue with your relationship. If this is the case, see if the two of you can compromise on a time when it would be most beneficial to go after specific goals. This may make it so your goals don’t intervene with that of your partner.
Having different goals can be difficult in a relationship, but if you step back and analyze the barriers that are impacting your life together, you may find a way to make it work for both of you.
Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue 