"By 'labeling' a relationship, individuals imply describing where each person is in the relationship, as well as their expectations and desires." "This may be as basic as talking about whether you're simply friends, friends with romantic plans to move forward, or in a serious dating relationship," Tubbs tells mbg.com.
The more you talk about what level you are on in a relationship, the easier it will be to know if things are going anywhere. If he doesn't seem to understand that you want to take things seriously, then he isn't ready for a long-term commitment yet. If she wants to focus on her career first before thinking about marriage, then she's not looking to settle down anytime soon.
Labels are useful because they give information about the status of your relationship. If you aren't sure how far you want it to go, using labels can help you figure out how to proceed. For example, if he uses the words "just friendz" every time you discuss taking things further, then you should probably stop now rather than getting into something you won't be able to get out of.
If you have different levels of commitment, then labels are important so you don't get surprised if things develop further. For example, if she says she doesn't want a serious relationship but he keeps pushing his hopes up high, then this would be problematic.
Using labels correctly is very important in relationships.
Labeling your relationship does not necessarily imply that you are in a committed relationship, nor does claiming you "don't do labels" excuse you from discussing commitment. Even if you do not want to be in an exclusive or committed relationship, you must have a discussion to define the relationship. This is important because even if you both believe you are only friends, if one of you feels like she is being forced into this situation then it is not fair and should be changed.
The first thing to understand about relationships is that they are conversations. Over time these conversations will shape how each person sees their partner and what kind of relationship they want. No two people are exactly the same, so there is no right or wrong way to talk with someone about your relationship goals or expectations. But if you want to get the most out of these conversations you should try to understand where your partner is coming from before you start talking.
Does your girlfriend/boyfriend just not want to label anything? If she/he says they don't want to limit themselves by labeling their relationship, this means they don't want to be tied down to one definition of marriage. They prefer freedom over security. It's fine if you don't want to call your relationship "married," but you should at least agree on some type of understanding regarding finances, housework, and decision-making.
When the person you're dating refuses to clarify anything (Illustrated by Hannah Jacobs for Yahoo Lifestyle) Although every love narrative is different, one of the most popular today involves labels. Whether it's match.com or some other online dating site, people use their profiles to describe themselves and what they're looking for in a relationship. If you find someone who isn't interested in labeling themselves, then that's a good sign that they are true to themselves and aren't trying to fit into something fake or false.
The person you're dating might not want to label themselves because they feel like it limits their options. For example, if someone says they don't want to label themselves as "just friends," that doesn't mean they want to be with you only as friends. It means they don't want to limit themselves to just one option. They understand that relationships are about balancing each other out rather than filling gaps in each other's lives. That way, there's no need to label anything since there's nothing to fill up.
They also may not want to label things because they don't want to put restrictions on you. For example, if someone tells you they don't want to label their relationship, this doesn't mean they want to be with you regardless of your status.