Focusing on the ring is the number one way women lose themselves in relationships. Focusing on the ring means you have too many expectations, too much attachment to ‘how it should be’, and are pulled into his world rather than rising above it.

1. You’re in a loving, happy relationship.

You’re in a loving, happy relationship. You’ve been together for a year or two, and maybe you’re even talking about moving in together. He is wonderful and you get along great, but there’s one thing missing.

You want a ring. You want to be proposed to and have a big wedding. You want your happily ever after.

You start dropping hints, like showing him pictures of rings you like or making comments about couples who have gotten engaged recently. You talk about the future and how great it will be when you’re engaged and planning the wedding.

You start to feel resentful that he hasn’t proposed yet. And it’s not like he doesn’t know you want to get married, because you’ve made it clear that you do! You wonder if he’s ever going to propose, or if he even wants to marry you at all

Be honest: How many of us are guilty of this? We want to be married so badly that we’ll do anything we can to make it happen, including putting pressure on our partners. You should not be doing this.

2.You don’t want to nag or complain.

You don’t want to give him an ultimatum. But you want to know if and when he’s going to pop the question, and you’re starting to get impatient.

3. You’ll Stop Obsessing Over The ‘What Ifs’

It seems like “ring anxiety” starts with a simple question: What will my ring look like? But that’s just the beginning. Soon, you’re spinning out about when he’ll propose, where he’ll propose and how he’ll propose. One minute, you’re excited about planning a wedding; the next minute, you’re terrified because you don’t know how your partner feels about marriage.

4.You spend too much time thinking about ‘the ring.’

Ladies, I’m going to be the first to say it: Stop focusing on that ring.

Now before you go and jump off a bridge, let me explain. I am most certainly not saying that you shouldn’t focus on your relationship or that you shouldn’t want to get married. Let me ask you this, though: When was the last time you and your boyfriend sat down together and had a conversation about how committed you are to one another?

When was the last time you had an honest discussion about the future of your relationship? When was the last time you asked him what he wants out of life, where he sees himself in five years, where he sees himself with you? When was the last time you talked about marriage as something other than a ring on your finger?

I’ll tell you when: Never.

You spend too much time thinking about “the ring.” What is that supposed to mean anyway? The ring is just a piece of jewelry. It doesn’t mean anything more than that unless it has meaning behind it.

5.You’re actually thinking about marriage as an end goal, instead of as a step in your life together.

. If you’re fixated on the end game, you won’t be able to appreciate all of the steps along the way that come with building a relationship. And if you’re not happy before you get engaged, you probably won’t be happy after either.

It’s time to stop obsessing over an arbitrary deadline and start enjoying whatever stage of your relationship is right now.

Women often place so much emphasis on the ring, that they do not see the bigger picture. It is important to be with a man who has ambition, who is loving and kind. Ok really important to marry a man who loves and respects you and will help you grow as a person.