10 Green Flags In a Relationship That Mean You're Onto Something Good

It's easy to get caught up in looking for red flags when dating someone new. Are they love-bombing you? Is their ex really just a friend?

Was that weird comment a one-off, or something you should be concerned about? And while knowing what to watch out for is important, constantly searching for reasons someone might be wrong for you can make it easy to overlook all the ways they might actually be right. Unlike the red flags that signal potential problems, green flags can help you recognize when someone might actually be a great partner.

And spoiler: They're usually a lot less flashy than grand romantic gestures or an immediate, can't-keep-your-hands-off-each-other connection. Basically, it's less about whether someone checks every box on your dream-partner list and more about how they actually show up for you. Ahead, relationship experts break down the biggest green flags to look for, including some you might not even realize are worth paying attention to.

Just like it sounds, a green flag is an indication that a person or relationship has the potential for a healthy and enjoyable future. But green flags aren't necessarily the same things that make someone attractive or even compatible with you. As Gigi Engle, a certified sex and relationships psychotherapist and lead dating expert at Chyrpe, explains, “Attraction tells you that you want someone, and compatibility tells you that you may enjoy spending time together or share important values.

Green flags tell you something about how that person is likely to treat you once the initial excitement settles.” In other words, we're looking beyond the qualities you dreamed about for your significant other when you were 12. Instead, pay attention to how someone consistently interacts with you and the world around them. And while no one's perfect, recognizing these green flags can help you figure out whether a potential match could make a great partner.

Ready to see what to look for? Here are 10 green flags that experts say are worth paying attention to. While being vulnerable in front of a partner might make anyone feel a little emotionally exposed, Daren says it’s one of the biggest dating green flags out there.