

Explore your sign’s 2024 horoscope predictions to learn what is in store for you this year in love, career, and more. Check out the love compatibility of each sign to learn more about zodiac pairings and all things compatibility.
Love in 2024 is about finding the balance between your needs and the needs of your relationships. The blindfolds are being taken off, and clarity is gained in matters of the heart. With Jupiter in Taurus for half the year, a Venusian sign aligned with love, with two eclipses in Libra, another sign ruled by Venus, the planet of love, and with Mars going retrograde at the end of the year, there is a lot to take in and a lot to feel through when it comes to romance.
This year is an opportunity to decide from the heart and to bridge the gap between what you want in love and what you have through self-confidence and faith. There are a few key dates of the year when relationship matters will be more heightened. A few of them are on March 25, during the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Libra, and on November 2, the New Moon Solar Eclipse.
Your 2024 Love Horoscope Predictions For Each Zodiac Sign
During the Lunar Eclipse culminations come to fruition in love, and it’s a time of letting go of any energy you don’t want to bring with you in your relationships anymore. This is a time for healing in love and a time to regroup. On Nov. 2, there is a Solar Eclipse in Libra, and this is a time of major changes in love and in the direction it is headed. Remember that things need time to settle when it comes to eclipses, and the changes you are seeing now may not be a forever thing.
Give yourself and love grace, and see how you can learn and grow with another, rather than retreat.
Saturn is in Pisces for the entire year, which is also shaping things romantically for the world, as Pisces is a more emotional and heartfelt sign. While Saturn is in Pisces, we learn through our emotions, and we discover the stability that comes from healing. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself the tough questions this year and to do what it takes to move you away from fear of vulnerability, and closer to love. With Juno in Virgo for most of this year as well, the need to take care of yourself and your well-being and to create more of this good health and nurture in your relationships is prevalent.
This year is overall about recognizing your needs in love, and if they align with the people you are connected to or are in your life. Are you overcompensating or giving more than you want to or have in you to give? Can you ask for what you need to create more room for clarity and understanding in your relationships rather than confusion?
If you were to take a look at where love and the close relationships in your life are right now, would you be satisfied and happy with where things are, or would you look for a new path? This year is an opportunity, and it’s one to strengthen where the love is for you already or open new doors by showing you what else is possible for you.
Keep reading for your sun and rising sign to see what your energy in love is like for 2024:
Petri Oeschger/Getty Images
ARIES
This year is a powerful year of love for you, Aries. You are receiving the love you are looking for, and the growth you are moving through now is here to stay and is only going to get better for you. With an eclipse in your sign this year, the North Node in your sign, and Chiron in your sign as well, a lot of the focus is on you in 2024, and you are a true power player of the year.
Something healing is taking place for you over the next year, and you are healing your perspective and idea of love. There is less of a need to always do things alone and to keep everything in, and this year is teaching you that you can trust love, you can trust the people in your life, and that when you open up to the things you want, you feel less alone.
TAURUS
Love this year is about giving patience and allowing yourself it as well, Taurus. Jupiter is in your sign until May, and when Jupiter is in your sign, you experience some of the luckiest months of your life. So, being in this energy is going to benefit your life on all levels, including love. However, Chiron is also in your 12th house of closure, and you are letting go of your past traumas or challenges in love.
With you already being a relationship-focused sign, things can feel like a lot to handle emotionally at times this year.
Your guidance is to think things through, to think before speaking, and to only take action when you feel inspired and intentional about it. Allow love to fall into place without getting too ahead of yourself, and trust that the right person will be there when you are ready.
GEMINI
This year is about opportunities in love, Gemini. New paths are opening up to you, new people are coming into your life, and love is moving forward. This is an exciting year for love, and with Jupiter, the planet of blessings in your sign from May 25th into 2025, you have luck on your side right now. This is a year of being seen for the gift that you are and about experiencing success in many different areas of your life, including romantically. There are two eclipses in your 5th house of romance this year, and things are getting interesting for you here.
You are moving through changes in what and who makes you happy, what you want to spend your time on, and how you want to show up in your relationships. With Venus in your sign from May 23rd until June 17th, mid-year is when things start to pick up for you in love, and this energy will last through the year.
CANCER
Love this year is all about trusting your intuition and using what wisdom you have gained for your benefit, Cancer. You are someone who understands emotions well, and you are using this strength of yours in your relationships. Venus is in your sign from June 17th until July 5th, and mid-year, you are moving through a time of feeling seen and like the love you give is being reciprocated.
The Cancer New Moon on July 5th is a good time to set your intentions for romance and to focus on what perspectives you have to make sure you are manifesting what you want and not what you fear. With Saturn in Pisces and in your 5th house of romance this year, you are learning a lot about what makes you happy right now, and this may be a gradual process for you. Trust where you are being led in 2024, and trust your own inner heart to guide you.
LEO
Your heart is protected, and you are free to love, Leo. This year is a big year for growth in love, but the lessons in obtaining it may be difficult at times. You are being guided to create more healthy boundaries in your life, to not give up on the things you have worked towards, and to trust your heart. Being there for yourself is not selfish, and the people who get it will be there for you regardless of what is happening in your life.
Mars goes retrograde every two years, and just so happens to be going retrograde in your sign this year from December 16th until February 24th. The end of the year will be a time of releasing negative energy from your life, refocusing your motives and intentions, and finding renewed passion in love. This year overall is helping you see where you need to let go emotionally and where you want to strengthen.
Petri Oeschger/Getty Images
VIRGO
Love this year is about trusting your instincts, Virgo. You may have to make some uncomfortable decisions this year, but they will ultimately lead you to a better experience in love overall. With Saturn, the planet of challenge, restriction, and structure, in your 7th house of love and partnerships this year, you may be feeling more pressure in your relationships, and like there is room to grow here. Give yourself and others as much grace as you can, yet be firm in what you want for yourself and where you want to be.
Juno is in Virgo until August of this year, and this energy is healing for you in love and is allowing you to see the fine details of your relationships clearly. Overall, this year is about being brave, being honest, being grateful, and doing what you feel is right.
LIBRA
ove for you this year is transformational, Libra. Love is overall surprising you in 2024, and there is a lot to grasp, and also a lot to let go of as you move through the year. With two eclipses in your sign and one eclipse in the area of your chart having to do with love and relationships, you are finding your balance here. The New Moon Eclipse in Aries on April 8th, is when you are going to start seeing these changes and new beginnings come about for you in love, but this year is also more about having fun with it all and not holding yourself or anyone else to too many restrictions.
Things change, and the more you can trust that you will benefit from said changes, the better. The North Node is in your 7th house of love this year as well, and you are overall going to be developing a lot regarding relationship matters and will be reaching some important awareness and goals here.
SCORPIO
This is a year of good karma for you in love, Scorpio. The things you have been hoping for, the justice you have been seeking, and the balance you have been working towards are coming into focus for you now. This is a powerful year for you when it comes to romance, and the first half of 2024 is when a lot of this energy is going to be more prominent for you. Jupiter is in your house of love until May 25th, and you have good luck on your side when it comes to soulmates and manifesting your dreams in love.
Uranus is also in your 7th house of love, and there are some surprises in store for you this year, and they are coming exactly when you need them. Saturn, being in your house of romance for the year as well, is balancing the growth and new beginnings you are experiencing with the stability and structure you need to maintain them.
SAGITTARIUS
You are being protected in love this year, Sagittarius. This is a year of gaining awareness in your relationships and about creating a new chapter for yourself here. Not everyone is going to get you or be the right one for you, and you are weaving through the what-ifs and making room for the people you truly want to say yes to. The second half of the year is going to be the most beneficial for you in love, as Jupiter enters Gemini and moves into your house of partnership from May 25th to 2025.
Love is going to get really good for you as the year ends, especially with Venus entering your sign for a month on October 17th. Chiron, being in your 5th house of romance this year, is also guiding you toward your personal happiness, and attracting to you healing, loving, and emotionally expressive individuals who want to show their love for you.
CAPRICORN
This year, you are in a good space in love and are feeling the stability, growth, and abundance of your relationships. This is a time when you are being recognized for what you bring to the table and the fact that you deserve everything you want here. You are leading the way forward in love and are claiming the good that wants to come into your life this year.
Venus is in your sign twice in 2024, once at the beginning of the year and again at the end, and there are also two Capricorn Full Moons this year as well. There is something extra magical about this year for you, Capricorn. There are gifts that want to come in for you, opportunities to grab hold of, and self-empowerment to own. You are happy with where things are in love in 2024, feeling emotionally secure, and are doing things your own way.
AQUARIUS
This year is about overcoming fears in love, Aquarius. You are moving through a time of healing in your relationships and a time of noticing where the restrictions have been for you in love. There are some limitations you are overcoming now, as you challenge yourself to connect and be more vulnerable with how you are feeling with others.
True power can come through expressing your emotions, and with Pluto in your sign this year, you are finding your voice and where you can hone in on your strengths more.
With Saturn being in your 2nd house of self-confidence, investments, and values this year, you are also looking at where you want to put more energy into your relationships and where you need to ask for more of what you are looking for. Venus is in your house of love from July 11 to August 4, and this is a good time of the year for you romantically in 2024.
PISCES
You are getting a fresh start in love this year, Pisces. This is a fruitful year for you emotionally, and a time where you are seeing your relationship goals manifest and come to fruition. Saturn is in your sign in 2024, and you are going through a major growth spurt in life, but you are finally starting to see the benefits of how you have evolved personally.
You are going about things in your relationships in a healing and nurturing way, and you are receiving the love and support that you give. Mercury will be retrograde in your 7th house of love for a little over a week from August 4 to August 14, and some extra patience within your relationships will be needed then. However, with Juno also in your 7th house of love for most of the year, you are overall at a time of feeling commitment and receptivity in your love life this year.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Photo by Delmaine Donson/Getty Images
Tayler Barakat is a Mystic who has studied Astrology for over a decade. She does intuitive astrology and tarot readings for people all over the world, and her work focuses on healing and empowering individuals. Follow her on Instagram @taylerbarakat_ and check out her website www.listentothevirgo.com.
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy
We've All Heard Of Marriage Red Flags Before. Now Check Out 6 Divorce Red Flags.
Red flags. When it comes to relationships, there is nothing like knowing that there are glaring warning signs that are literally trying to tell you something, and yet, because of how you feel about someone, you choose to totally ignore them. Indeed, as author Steve Maraboli once said, “They ignored all of the signs…Pretended not to see the flags…You can break your own heart loving some people.” Geeze.
And this is why, when it comes to getting married, dating/engaged couples definitely need to pay attention to some potentially serious marriage red flags — lifestyle incompatibility; poor communication; financial instability; sexual incompatibility (you don’t have to have sex to know this by the way — couples need to discuss their intimacy needs and wants regardless); inability to compromise; any forms of abuse or addictions and/or unrealistic expectations.
Whew, please hear me when I say that, no matter how much you love someone, if you say “I do” without addressing (and hopefully resolving) these issues before jumping somebody’s broom, you could be in for a really unpleasant marital experience…if not divorce court up the road.
And speaking of divorce, although it’s not discussed nearly enough, believe it or not, there are also things that should be considered divorce red flags — also glaring warning signs that you are about to blow up your union, if you don’t gather yourself together, talk to your partner (and, if need be a marriage therapist, counselor or life coach) and work to get things back on track.
After over 20 years of working with married couples, some of which were right on the brink of calling it quits, here are six of the consistent divorce red flags that I’ve noticed — along with a bit of advice on how to effectively handle them…so that you don’t end up ending your marriage, when there wasn’t a reason to.
1. Impatience
I promise you, with everything in me, I don’t get — not really — why impatient people get married. There are a billion-and-one reasons why it baffles me; however, we can start with Scripture telling us that “love is patient” (I Corinthians 13:4) and, as I’ve shared in other articles, patience isn’t just about knowing how to wait well, it’s also about “bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.” Please tell me that you really caught that second one because it clearly says that patient people are able to deal with things like annoyances and hardships by remaining calm and without complaining.
Now, be real — how many people do you know, married or not, who act like this? And yet, again, the Good Book pretty much says that this is one definition of what it means to truly love other individuals: you can deal with challenging times in a steady and mature fashion. And this is why I can’t think of one client who will tell you that I am not a big fan of people worshipping the god of happiness.
What I mean by that is — how many times have you watched a post on social media (shoot, probably today alone) where someone has said that they left their marriage because “I’m just not happy anymore”? SMDH. Some people aren’t going to want to hear this, but only children should expect to be happy all of the time — and even they need to be taught just how unrealistic that is. Where the big kids play is getting that HEALTHY should always trump HAPPY — and the people who truly grasp this concept, they tend to be better at being patient than those who think that everything should be about their happiness darn near every minute of every day.
While we’re here, what are some other signs of being an impatient individual (who is usually unhappy most of the time)?
- They always want things done in their time
- They use pressure, stress, and ultimatums to get things done
- They get frustrated whenever things don’t go as planned (which means they are inflexible)
- They constantly cut people off in conversations (which means that they don’t listen well)
- They don’t know how to relax and be in the moment
And this is just five signs, chile. Anyway, the reason why this tops the list of being a divorce red flag is because, if you’re thinking about ending your marriage because you don’t know to deal with disappointments or challenges or you think that your spouse should move in your timeframe, not only do you have some tremendously unrealistic beliefs about marriage but you do about humanity, in general. Not only that, but leaving your husband, just to get with someone else? That isn’t really going to change things.
Hmph. Let me tell it, the reason why 67 percent of second marriages and 74 percent of third ones also end in divorce is because people don’t take the saying “everywhere you go, there you are” seriously and literally enough. In other words — if you’re impatient with the partner you have now and you don’t make some changes within yourself about your issues with impatience, you will be the same way with the next guy…and the next…and the next.
Divorcing because you don’t know how to wait well and/or deal with things not always going how you would like? That is a serious divorce red flag.
2. Making Comparisons
I’m pretty sure you’ve heard the quote by Theodore Roosevelt that says, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” What that basically means is if you are caught up in looking at what others are doing or what others have, it can rob you of finding pleasure, contentment and satisfaction in your own life — and when you stop to think about the fact that the internet/social media didn’t even exist at the time that he said this…whew.
When it comes to the impact that the World Wide Web has on people, one study says that social media causes 90 percent of women and 60 percent of men to compare themselves to what they see online; not only that, but 40 percent of those same people say that it affects them in a negative way. Another study? It states that social media content plays a direct role in individuals having low self-esteem, while another study revealed that 88 percent of women said that their body image was impacted by what they see on social media. And y’all, still another study cited that 75 percent of folks assessed their self-worth by what they saw online. Geeze.
If you take all of this in and then add to it the fact that some studies say that one in seven marriages say that social media played a direct role in their divorce — although there used to be a time when folks were needing to be intentional about not comparing themselves to their relatives, friends and co-workers, now they need to avoid doing it with the hundreds of people who they are able to access online on a daily basis too.
That said, I don’t care how big someone’s engagement ring is, how many trips certain couples go on or how someone speaks about their partner — everyone’s relationship is different and unique and it is pretty close to ridiculous to participate in self-sabotaging behavior by creating problems in your marriage simply because you wish it was more like someone else’s.
If there are things that you genuinely want to do or accomplish, then get with your spouse and start making some plans; however, if your core motivation is to keep up with other people, actually, that is low-key a form of being unfaithful to your own relationship because you are putting so much energy into what other folks have going on that you are neglecting the man who is right in the bed with you. And yeah, that ain’t good.
3. Unforgivingness
Someone else who has no business getting married — people who are stubborn when it comes to forgiving other people. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that it is rooted in complete delusion and/or egomania to think that people should give you grace and mercy when you’ve done wrong and yet you believe that can and even should weaponize forgiveness when it comes time for individuals to receive it from you.
What are some signs that you suck at forgiving other people?
- You constantly live in the past or bring it up (once it’s been addressed)
- You hold people’s faults over them like it’s a power trip
- You hold grudges for days and weeks on end
- You lack empathy and compassion (as if you don’t have faults as well)
- You keep trying to make people “pay” for what they have done
- You punish them by withholding engagement or intimacy (if it’s your spouse) from them
- You’re bitter
And yet, I can’t tell you how many times that a person has told me that they are ready to end their marriage because they told their spouse beforehand that if they did something ONE TIME, they were out — only for life to humble them by them doing that very thing and then begging for their partner to pardon them for it.
And if the first thing that some of you want to jump to is infidelity — first of all, reportedly only 20 percent of men and 13 percent of women, so this obsession with that topic really needs to cease. Besides, if you aren’t a good forgiver, things like your man hurting your feelings by not keeping a date, and you holding onto that? That can cause you to feel resentful over time which can make you want to make literal mountains out of molehills when it comes to other things that he does…things that wouldn’t be as big of a deal in your mind if you had let the original offense — which sometimes isn’t even an offense, it’s just a disappointment — go.
Some people aren’t going to want to hear this, and yet, still, it needs to be said: A lot of people end up divorcing, and it’s not because of abuse or cheating or anything as extreme. It’s because they leave very little room for error when it comes to their partner (which is unrealistic as hell) and so, since they aren’t good at forgiving, they don’t know how to handle it whenever someone makes a mistake (or a poor decision) — and so, they would rather leave than figure out how to heal the situation by forgiving their partner as their partner seeks a way to make things right.
And those people? They are never going to be in a healthy long-term relationship because the reality is that humans are fallible and will always need to be forgiven — ALL HUMANS (including oneself). People who don’t accept this, they are the unforgiving types who are a constant example of a divorce red flag.
4. Selfishness
I ain’t gonna lie — the times when I do tiptoe out into social media to see what folks are talking about and I watch even five minutes of relationship-related content, the first thing that comes to my mind is a whole lot of people are not emotionally mature enough for marriage, just by their selfishness alone. By definition, to be selfish is to be self-consumed and anyone who is consistently concerned about what they can get out of a relationship without even considering another individual — they are selfish. Not to mention the fact that Scripture shows us how to love and care for other people, especially our spouse:
"Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done." (I Corinthians 13:5-NCV)
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (Philippians 2:3-4-NIV)
Did you catch it? If you truly love someone, you won’t be selfish, and if you want to show someone how much you care for them, selfish ambition cannot come into play. What this means is you’ve got to operate from a place of humility and be willing to take their own needs, wants, and interests into consideration.
Sometimes, when I’m in a session with a couple, all I hear is selfishness coming out, whether it’s from one or both sides. It’s not that they don’t still love each other. It’s not that they regret getting married. No, what they are struggling with is they either thought that marriage was going to be about their needs taking precedent most of the time or that they didn’t seriously consider the fact that, sometimes, they would need to put their own desires on hold for the betterment of their partner and oftentimes the relationship overall.
You know, when I recently read an article on some of the traits of a selfish person, three that stood out to me were that selfish people hate to compromise, selfish people put their wants above anything else, and selfish people don’t care about other people’s feelings. And these are the kinds of people who file for divorce on a daily basis — and that is both childish and sad.
Another thing to keep in mind about selfishness is it tends to be supremely self-centered — this presents itself as folks who are “good” at dominating conversations, skirting around accountability and responsibility and refusing to put themselves in other people’s shoes…and oftentimes, it takes a spouse “putting up a mirror” to their partner to show them that they are exactly this way.
If you just read all of this and you low-key feel triggered by it, ponder if what you currently think “isn’t working” about your marriage is more about you being more selfish than you should be. Because if you don’t learn that lesson in this relationship, you’ll just keep self-sabotaging other ones along the way — romantic ones especially, because no one really wants to be with someone who only focuses on themselves. Not for the long haul, anyway
5. A Lack of Research
Several years back, I penned an article for the platform entitled, “What Some People Regret About Their Divorce.” You know, one of the things that I absolutely loathe about how people date these days is they think that boyfriends are husbands, girlfriends are wives, and break-ups are divorces — and that is why so many people don’t really get the weight of what marriage and ending one really is. SMDH.
And that’s why, it doesn’t surprise me in the least that one study says one-third of people who divorce end up regretting doing it. I say that because, just like not nearly enough people get into premarital counseling before saying “I do” (check out “Why You Should Strongly Consider Premarital Counseling BEFORE Getting Engaged”), not enough married couples “get their oil changed” at least a couple of times a year by speaking with a reputable marriage counselor, therapist or life coach and definitely not enough will see one of these professionals before ending their union. And because of this, people make ignorant and/or rash, and/or emotionally charged decisions without really thinking about the fallout that can come from them.
For starters, did you know that more heart attacks happen to divorced men than non-divorced men? Meanwhile, women who’ve been divorced two or more times increase their risk of having a heart attack by a whopping 77 percent. In fact, people who get divorced are reportedly 20 percent more likely to experience health-related issues overall. Divorce also tends to lead to a significant increase in depression and anxiety, and there are all kinds of ways that it can jack up your finances, including taxes, assets, and retirement.
When it comes to what divorce can do to children, there is plenty of data out here that says it can lead to them having significant emotional issues, problems in school and it increases their chances of having substance abuse issues later down the road (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what it can do).
Can you survive a divorce if you get one? Sure you can. All I’m saying is, before you just “up and get one” — don’t let two random posts from some random ranters on Instagram have you out here thinking that it’s “no biggie” to divorce when it absolutely is. Do some thorough research into what the consequences of ending your marriage will be; treat it like it’s a dissertation. Folks who don’t take this advice — have mercy are they ignoring a HUGE divorce red flag.
6. Emotional Immaturity
Last one. Some people? Some of them are too emotionally immature for marriage or even a romantic relationship, in general. And what are some signs of emotional immaturity? Good question.
- Emotionally immature people don’t know how to control their emotions
- Emotionally immature people deflect and make excuses whenever they are called out
- Emotionally immature people hit below the belt during conflict
- Emotionally immature people constantly want to be the center of attention
- Emotionally immature people pout and/or throw temper tantrums
- Emotionally immature people rarely, if ever, self-reflect
- Emotionally immature people constantly deflect whenever topics make them uncomfortable
- Emotionally immature people are inconsistent and unpredictable
- Emotionally immature people tend to be passive-aggressive and/or defensive a lot of the time
- Emotionally immature people absolutely suck at listening because they only want to be heard
A while back, I watched a Tubi movie entitled What Fairytale? Boy, talk about some emotionally immature (and highly selfish) married folks. SMDH. Speaking of, a really good movie that’s currently loaded up on there as well is calledParachute — and boy, is it a big bright light about what it looks like to be codependent and in a relationship. Lawd.
My point of mentioning both of these films is, in their own way, they show what happens when one or two people are so emotionally immature (perhaps without even knowing it) that they have this Disney perception of marriage to the point where they make reckless and/or entitled and/or childish and/or impulsive and/or even ridiculous decisions about their relationship when that they really should do is do some self-reflecting and then get the professional help and support that they need to see and handle their marriage from a more mature and evolved space.
Emotionally immature folks? There probably isn’t a bigger divorce red flag than this one.
____
I’ve been working with married couples for a long time, y’all, with an emphasis on reconciling divorces. And you know what? Something that I’ve realized is that a ton of marriages can be saved when people 1) recognize divorce red flags when they see them and 2) get that divorce is a very serious decision that has a truly lasting impact…on all parties involved.
It can’t be said enough that a red flag is a warning. Today is a warning that you could be considering a divorce when you really shouldn’t be. If you see these red flags, talk to your spouse, hit up a professional, and get around some healthy married people.
Never ignore red flags. Address them. It can — and typically does — spare you. A LOT.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image LumiNola/Getty Images