{"id":13692,"date":"2022-06-15T08:53:31","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T15:53:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/datemixstaging.wpengine.com\/?p=13692"},"modified":"2022-12-20T05:28:27","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T13:28:27","slug":"definition-exclusive-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/relationship-advice\/relationship-stages\/definition-exclusive-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive Relationships: How To Figure Out If You’re Ready For The ‘Big Talk’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hanging out. Going out. Seeing where it goes. There are many ways to describe the various stages of dating<\/a>, and everyone has different definitions for these terms. But there\u2019s one stage that\u2019s important to be on the same page about \u2013 the definition of an exclusive relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Traditional Meaning of \u2018Exclusive Relationship\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What does exclusive mean in a relationship? Typically, an exclusive relationship means an agreement between two people to only date one another \u2013 that is, not to engage romantically or sexually with anybody else. Once two people have decided to be exclusive, they\u2019re no longer two single people \u2013 they\u2019re a committed couple. This means they both:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Acknowledge that they\u2019re in an exclusive relationship together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Commit to their partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Agree to respect any boundaries discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to be on the same page no matter what stage your courtship is in, but mutually deciding to go from casually dating to exclusive is the most important of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Right Time to Be Exclusive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re ready to take your relationship to the next level<\/a> and go exclusive, how can you achieve this? It\u2019s simple: by being honest and talking about it<\/a>. Once you\u2019re ready to be exclusive with your partner, don\u2019t be ashamed to bring it up. This honesty forms the basis of any good relationship<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, it\u2019s probably not an appropriate conversation to have on the first date, and we\u2019re not suggesting you should bring it up ASAP. But if you enjoy someone\u2019s company and aren\u2019t interested in seeing anyone else, it\u2019s not a bad time to start thinking about having the conversation. Typically the exclusive relationship conversation<\/a> happens after a few weeks or months of getting to know somebody, but every situation is unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Discuss Exclusivity in a Relationship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As scary as the idea can be, if you\u2019ve decided it\u2019s time to go exclusive, you need to have \u2018the talk\u2019 at some point. Depending on your partner\u2019s love language<\/a>, you may wish to make a big show of affection \u2013 a picnic, a sunset, a fancy dinner \u2013 or you may prefer a simple off-the-cuff conversation. Choose what suits your dynamic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of asking someone to \u201cdefine the relationship\u201d has the unfortunate stigma of being pushy, but it\u2019s just being honest. Share your feelings and remember, wanting to be on the same page as someone is brave, not pushy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unless your partner has specifically told you how they feel, you shouldn\u2019t assume to know what they\u2019re thinking or feeling. The best thing you can do is just ask. And if you do open up and the other person doesn\u2019t reciprocate your feelings, try to see that as a blessing in disguise. If someone is wary of committing now, don\u2019t try to force a future together. It\u2019s better to learn how they feel early on, rather than years down the line!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can a Casual Relationship Be Exclusive?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a tricky one. In theory, yes. Two people who like one another but don\u2019t have an overwhelming urge to be a couple could embark on a casual relationship<\/a> in which they don\u2019t rely on one another\/spend much time together, but do<\/em> make a mutual promise not to date others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This may develop into something more serious as time goes by, or the pair in question might find one of them develops feelings faster than the other, leading to an unhealthy unbalance. Alternatively, it might all be airy and happily casual forever. Every couple is different, and there\u2019s no one-size-fits-all answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making Sure You Feel the Same Way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve mutually decided to be in an exclusive relationship, congratulations! Now the rest is up to you. If you don\u2019t like the word relationship, you can use a different term. If you shy away from the classic labels, use boyfriend nicknames<\/a> and\/or girlfriend nicknames<\/a> to avoid them. And hey, if you want to modify the definition of exclusive, that\u2019s also fair game. As long as you both define your situation the same way, that\u2019s all that matters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, the importance of that word, mutual, never goes away. If you ever change your mind about wanting to be exclusive and you want to break up, it\u2019s important to be honest with your partner about that too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re looking to embark on casual dating<\/a> or you\u2019re ready to be in a committed, marriage-minded relationship<\/a>, the best thing you can do is be open and honest about your intentions. You don\u2019t want to get hurt or hurt someone else. After you confirm that your definition of an exclusive relationship matches your partner\u2019s and that you\u2019re both looking for the same thing, you\u2019ll both be happy and excited to move forward together.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn what it means and why it’s important. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":29298,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[893],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-relationship-stages"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat's the Definition of an Exclusive Relationship?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Definition of an exclusive relationship: An exclusive relationship is a mutual agreement between two people that neither one is pursuing other partners.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/relationship-advice\/relationship-stages\/definition-exclusive-relationship\/\" \/>\n<meta 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