So you’ve been dating this guy for a few months now and you’re still in that early evaluation phase. You haven’t formally had the talk yet and are still unsure of exactly where you stand. You’re probably trying to decide if it’s worth it to continue dating in the hopes of it working out long term or if you should cut your losses now and move on to the next guy. Do you feel like you’re dating Mr. Right or just Mr. Right Now? How can you be sure if it’s worth sticking around to see if this relationship could potentially have a future?

Making Plans For the Future: It’s been a few months and are you and your guy making progress and growing together or simply passing time? You see each other on a regular basis and talk fairly often, but what kind of plans are you making? Does your guy wait until Thursday to call you and make plans for Friday night? It’s one thing to live day to day and it’s another to start making plans for the future. I’m not talking about the kind of plans that include marriage and kids, just plans beyond this weekend. For example, say your guy and his friends are renting a place on the beach for the summer and it’s only February. Does he assume that you’ll be there frolicking on the beach with him or has he not even broached the subject with you? Does he ask for a single room because he’s assuming that you’ll be visiting him at the beach house or does he sign up for a triple? If he thinks of you and factors you into his plans months in advance, chances are he’s considering a future with you.

Formal Relationship Titles: After you’ve been dating for at least 3 months, do you feel like you want to bring up the subject of titles? It’s okay to broach the subject, just keep in mind that most guys get squeamish when this topic of conversation rears its ugly head. They hate to hear things like “Where is this relationship going?” and “When can we be boyfriend and girlfriend?” Armed with the right lingo, you can avoid a major conversation meltdown on his part. When the time comes to bring it up, do it in a setting that’s fun and comfortable. Rent a few movies, make some popcorn and get cozy on the couch. Start off by letting him know how much you’ve enjoyed spending time together. Then you can casually move on to whether or not you’re each still seeing other people. If you only have eyes for each other, then it may not even be necessary to say anything more. By acknowledging that you are the only woman in his life, your man is basically letting you know where he stands on the relationship. Stop stressing over official titles like ‘boyfriend’ and ‘girlfriend’ and just let everything fall comfortably into place.

If you can master “future plans” and “titles” you’ll be heading in the right direction when it comes to mastering your relationship destiny.

Jeff Cohen is the author of the e-book, 30 Minute Guide to Online Dating. It's a must-read for anyone looking to master the art of online dating without wasting hours of valuable time. To learn more about the e-book and purchase a copy, please visit "30 Minute Guide to Online Dating"