“Just because we break up, it doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends…”
Is this where you’re at right now? Did your ex offer you the olive branch of friendship, right after breaking things off with you? Even more importantly, did you grab onto it?
Like most guys and gals in this situation, you probably took your ex up on his/her offer to remain friends after the breakup. You couldn’t stand the thought of not being in his/her life, and you figured that just being around him/her could lead to one day getting back together again.
In staying friends you might still get to see your ex, talk to him/her, and possibly even hang out (Platonically of course), every once in a while. It sure beats losing him/her completely, and cutting him/her out of your life for good. Right?
Well, not exactly…
Why Does My Ex Want To Stay Friends?
Before grabbing that brass ring of friendship, you need to explore the REAL reasons why he/she wants to be friends after the breakup. It’s not because he/she needs another friend, or because he/she values your opinion, or because he or she’s looking for a buddy to hang out with. No, your ex wants to stay connected with you for one reason alone: to keep you around as his/her backup plan.
In a real breakup, your ex wouldn’t want any additional contact with you. He/She’d walk away cleanly, and the break would be pretty cut and dry. It would sting, yes, but your ex would walk deliberately out of your life. The fact that he/she still wants to ‘hang around’ is a good sign that your ex still loves you, but it’s also something you need to be very careful of.
What Should I Do When My Wants To Be Friends?
In an ideal world, you already refused your ex’s offer when he/she asked to stay friends. You told him/her that you didn’t think it was such a good idea, or that you’re not looking for a friend but instead want a real relationship with him/her. Odds are however, that you agreed to the post-breakup friendship (or maybe you are about to) in an effort to stay in her life and not lose him/her.
By staying friends with your ex however, you’re only going to extend your breakup and make it more difficult to get your ex back. He/She’ll feel comforted by the friendship, and by knowing where you are (and what you’re doing, and who you’re with, etc…) at all times. This will enable your ex to happily pursue his/her new single life, while you look on nervously hoping he/she doesn’t hook up with a new person, or get a new boyfriend/girlfriend.
What you need to do here is rather simple: don’t allow your ex to use you as a backup plan. When he/she breaks up with you but still wants to be friends, you tell them:
“Listen, this isn’t a good idea. Being friends doesn’t work for me. I love you, and I want to be with you. If that’s not what YOU want, then I have to walk away. I can’t pretend to be your ‘friend’ when I still have actual feelings for you. Sorry, and I wish you the best of luck.”
This is a radical approach, but it’s also the complete opposite of what your ex wants and expects. Instead of getting to hang onto you for a while, you’re cutting him/her off completely. Instead of getting to let go of you gradually, you’re taking yourself away from him/her all at once. For the first time ever, your ex now faces the prospect of actually LOSING you. This isn’t what he/she wanted, which is why he/she told you /he she wanted to be friends after breaking up.
The idea of you walking away is NOT very appealing to your ex. It will cause him/her to scramble, and it will definitely make him/her re-examine his/her decision to break things off.
What If I’m Already Friends With My Ex?
In some situations, you might already have agreed to stay friends after the break. Maybe your ex calls you when he/she’s bored, sees you once in a while, and even hints at getting back together from time to time. He/she does this, of course, to keep you hanging on. Take a single step in his/her direction and try to get him/her back, and suddenly your ex pulls away (sound familiar)?
To fix this situation, you need to create a void in her life. You need to remove yourself from the friendship arrangement, and make it seem as if you’re moving on. The second you start having your own agenda will be the very second your ex starts reconsidering the breakup. There are methods and techniques you can use to reverse your current situation and regain control over your broken relationship… used correctly, these methods can quickly have your ex flying back into your arms.
For more information contact expert Doreen at Enter Your Mind Hypnosis For Happiness