We all know that there are certain things in life that are not meant to be, but how can one determine what was meant to be from what was not meant to be?

Most relationships usually start on a good note, you may think you are in love but you may not know enough about the person you are dating to make this decision. As time goes by you will learn many new things about your partner, both good and bad things. Many people will focus on the good things about their partner because it's the good things that have attracted them to the person. However, the bad things should not be overlooked.

As you start learning new things about your partner you should make a list of 10 things you like and 10 things you dislike about your partner. When you have compiled this list you must determine whether the good things outweigh the bad things.

You should focus on the 10 things that you dislike about your partner and if you are willing to accept these flaws, you can then say you are truly in love with this person. If you cannot accept these imperfections, then perhaps you should reconsider your relationship.

Once you have created a strong bond with your partner, things will work out fine in the relationship but what will you do if things change in the future? How will you know when it's time to end the relationship and move on?

Although all relationships will have their fair share of problems, there are certain signs and behaviour that cannot be tolerated, condoned or ignored if the relationship is to thrive. There are tell-tale signs to look out for.

Most of the time, when we are in a relationship, we tend to follow a pattern in our lives. This makes it easy to ignore the red flags that are actually the signs of a bad relationship. Also the investment of time and emotions attached to a relationship can make it difficult for you to decide when to break up. However, there are circumstances that will lead to an eventual breakup.

One of the most common reasons for a breakup is one of incompatibility. The passion and the heady feelings of being in love at first can temporarily blind you to the basic incompatibilities between you and your partner. Thus, when the euphoria starts wearing off, gradually you become more and more aware of the 'faults' or rather the differences in opinion of your partner. So, when you do not have the same goals and dreams for the future as your partner and do not foresee things like children, handling finances and the family, it’s time that you move on.

One of the most important parts of a relationship is spending time and talking to each other. A lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings and take a spark away from even the most loving relationships. This lack of communication can cause people to drift apart. Also, if you find that your partner is unresponsive to all your efforts to bridge the communication gap, then maybe he is just not committed enough towards the relationship. So, when you no longer look forward to speaking with your partner or seeing him on a regular basis, perhaps it’s time to reassess the relationship.

If you are often fighting and having arguments and when the triggering factor of your fights is a betrayal, a lie or a difference in core values then it might indicate that the relationship is on the rocks. However, before you jump to conclusions, it’s also important to keep in mind that disagreements and other relationship issues are a part of life and minor issues created over things like forgetting to return calls can always be worked upon. So, talk it over with your partner and try to find some common ground.

These are warning signs that should alert you that things have changed in the relationship, and all too often we will ignore these signs because we are still in love. When you start experiencing any of these problems you should speak to your partner about it. And if you and your partner are unable or unwilling to resolve these issues, you should consider ending the relationship on a good note. As if you were to stay in an unhappy relationship for too long, it will only make you miserable which will ultimately lead to more anger and resentment.

Why do people then persist in a dissatisfying relationship, unwilling either to work toward solutions or end it and move on? Well, it may simply be because they know changing will lead to the unknown, and most people feel that the unknown will be much more painful than what they're already experiencing.

However, it is vital that before you decide on when to break up, try finding out whether the relationship is worth saving. If you think that despite all the hurdles, you can make a commitment to make it work, then try everything to save the relationship. But if you think that your best efforts have been failing, then it might be time to move on with your life as it will be pointless and outright silly to hold on to someone who isn't appreciative and totally committed.