Trust your heart, but also listen to your head. Finding the perfect mate is a combination of the two.

Trust your heart, but also listen to your head. Finding the perfect mate is a combination of the two.

Like so many people, you’ve probably struggled with knowing whether somebody is the “right one” for you.

While most people would say honestly that you can never know for certain, there are a few strategies to help you find the right life partner.

When faced with the decision of whether to commit, for example, it’s essential to follow your heart.

One indicator is especially crucial. It’s called the “in-love” feeling – and you should never marry someone if you don’t have it.

So what is this feeling?

It’s an intuitive, almost indescribable sensation that things just feel right. Moreover, as 65-year-old Bryant Walker put it, this feeling is often accompanied by the inability to see an end to the relationship. When people say “follow your heart,” what they mean is to act on this feeling.

So knowing when things are right is important, but knowing when things are wrong might be even more important.

Kathy Andrews spent 20 years in a disastrous marriage before finally remarrying and enjoying 25 splendid years – and counting!

So what was wrong with Andrews’ first marriage?

Before she got married, Andrews often had a sinking feeling that something wasn’t right. Yet she was proud of her husband and tried to put the uncomfortable feeling out of her mind.

What she should have done, however, is confront this feeling head on.

But having the “in-love” feeling isn’t enough to commit. You also need to listen to your rational mind.

This means getting to know your partner to determine if you share the same goals and core values. To know whether a person has what it takes to be a life partner, you should consider the practical things: Is she financially responsible? Would he make a good parent?

It’s also essential to learn what your potential partner cares about. While different interests can add flair and excitement to a relationship, differences in values can be cataclysmic.