Relationship Red Flags

So I get to do something I am so excited about. I was asked to teach a mini-class on red flags in dating to the Laurels at a stake activity. My biggest problem is I only have 15 minutes and an hour's worth of points, subpoints and examples. I am going to handout the following and just see what I else I can cram into the time.

How do you know if you are in an unhealthy relationship? Here are a few things to look for:

Relationship RED FLAGS!

Physical violence. Holds you down, won’t let you leave the room, a little rough, hits walls, throws things, drives aggressively, cruel to animals.

Emotional, mental, verbal, or sexual abuse. Name calling, yelling, emotional roller-coaster, moody, depressed.

Controlling behavior. Jealous, possessive. Isolates you from family and friends.

Dishonesty or frequent misunderstandings. If he will lie about little things, he will lie about big things. If he will lie to someone else, he will lie to you.

How does he treat you and others? Doesn’t listen when you say no, doesn’t respect your choices and opinions. He will eventually treat you the way he does everyone else.

The negatives outweigh the positives. You think he will change.

Do most of your family members and friends think you are making a huge mistake?

Are you a better person when you are with him? Do you feel good about yourself and others?

Listen to the Spirit. You need to “hear” your own answers.

I wish I could pound into girl's heads (and some men and women too) that these are not things to see if you can overcome--they are signals to run. Kelsie heard a good comment in one of her classes. "Red flags in dating turn into flaming billboards in marriage." There are so many good people out there, and marriage can be so wonderful. I am on a crusade to help people have happy marriages and it starts with who you choose to date. We marry who we date--so choose wisely. Once we are married, the only person we can change is ourself, so we want to be the best we can be--and be married to someone who is a good match for us and what we want our marriage to be.