h2>Dating : Is it Possible to be Friends with an Ex?
For years people have believed it is the mature and adult thing for two people to try and remain friends with an ex-boyfriend or an ex-girlfriend. I believe many people do this. They are afraid to completely let go and no longer allow space for that person in their life because, during a period of time, they both meant a lot to one another.
Now that that time is over and you are both moving on or have already moved on, what is the point of staying in touch and keeping this person close to you?
If you are someone who has tried this approach, how is this working for you? Is your significant other okay with it? Is their significant other okay with it? What is the reason you want to continue a friendship with your ex?
In my experience, being friends with an ex has never turned out to be a great idea. How does one have a friendship with someone they use to have a romantic and intimate relationship with without feeling a bit uncomfortable around them after the relationship is over and you’ve both moved on or are trying to move on? I believe the only exception to even trying to make this sort of thing work is co-parenting or working together. If there is no other reason the two of you need to be in communication, may I suggest you let go and completely move on?
If you’re contemplating being friends with an ex, ask yourself some important questions before reaching that decision.
Are you respectful of your significant other’s feelings toward the situation? Are you staying friends for your own selfish ambitions to feed your ego by getting attention on the side? Be clear on your reason that your explanation alone will help you determine whether or not this is actually a good idea. Again, it doesn’t usually end well.
If your partner disapproves of this friendship, you must cut ties with your ex and respect your partner’s wishes if you want to continue to have a healthy relationship. If your partner is okay with the friendship and is honest about it not being a problem for them, then go ahead and continue the friendship while maintaining proper boundaries, so it does not affect your current relationship.
Here are 5 valuable reasons being friends with an ex is not a good idea.
- Friendship usually means something different to each person. One of you usually wants something more or less.
- A casual relationship with someone you use to date never ends well. Someone ends up getting hurt.
- There is typically a lack of mutual respect due to the imbalance of both parties seeing the friendship the same way.
- If or when one of you starts seeing someone new, there will be an excessive amount of jealously, which will also create insecurities you don’t need or deserve to feel.
- Your relationship was romantic. Therefore those feelings are too likely to arise from beneath the surface, causing a risky situation for even attempting to be “just friends.”
